A Driver’s Suicide Reveals the Dark Side of the Gig Economy

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: Willtell

He should have taken courses to increase his skill level and get out of that job.

Self responsibility has to come into play at some point in these situations.

You are under the impression that he has a skill that a company is looking for (or is trainable). The sad truth is that there is a percentage of people who are good for simple jobs, and are not capable of difficult work- not a popular subject, but a true one.


Also he is 60, if he does some retraining, and let's say it takes him 2-3 years, providing he isn't evicted or has a major set back that puts him at 63ish, takes another 3-6 months to find a job. He could be 64. Lot'sof companies wanting to invest in a soon to retire guy-even if he has another 15 years left in him?

I wonder what put him in such dire straights? Was he smart enough to do things other than his 100 hrs a week jobs? It isn't as simple as getting skills.


,,,

a reply to: Willtell

He blamed politicians — mayors Michael R. Bloomberg and Bill de Blasio, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo — and their acquiescence to the rich for permitting so many cars to flood the streets. He blamed the Taxi Commission for the fines and hassles it imposed.

He's right too. Quomo and Bloomberg both defended Ubers predatory practices, making this guys life a living hell for profit for their 40(?) billions.

Heard that figure somewhere, Uber doesn't have enough Market Share, they want it all.

Poor guy had to drive around longer and loner to earn enough to survive because they flooded the streets with their cars to take over the business.

And 100 years ago, this taxi driver would have put out of work some guy driving a horse carriage...

It sucks, but the writing has been on the wall for what five years or more now?

Part of the blames lies with the city governments that created these over priced taxi medallions that cause drivers and company owners to mortgage their lives just for the right to drive a cab. The resulting poor service from the high barriers to entry created the consumer need for disruptive technology to circumvent a restrained market.

Taxi's were known for poor and limited service. Crappy cars.

Here comes Uber that completely upends the market by providing a better experience all around. As an Uber user, I rarely ever take a cab now.

Cab industry brought this on itself. I feel for this guys frustration, but at the end of the day, he took the easy way out. He was weak. Far more people have bigger problems.

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: Willtell

He should have taken courses to increase his skill level and get out of that job.

Pffft, if he could afford school, and find time to study. He was an old dude, exhausted after driving around a hundred hours a week.

originally posted by: Willtell

So that’s what they call this devolution into slavery--the Gig Economy!
..
Uber and other modern predatory companies and of course the politicians who take their money will be responsible for the destruction of modern civilization eventually, as they bribe the politicians to ruin and destroy any vestige left of the underclass’s rights, and self respect.

Taxi drivers were protected by arbitrary rules that imposed heavy license fees and regulations on them.

I once saw a cop pull over a Taxi Cab and fined the driver for driving a "dirty" cab. I didn't even know they could to that.

No cop ever pulled me over because my car was dirty. But, then again, I'm not providing a service to the community with my car. I don't think any Uber driver would be pulled over just because their car is filty, they are not even easy to spot.

So..with barrier to entry gone, the old Taxi drivers lost their advantage.

A lot of newspapers lost their advantage when the internet came and enabled every Tom and Joe to set up his own news site. All the capital cost of investing in printing press, and distribution equipment, trucks and vans, etc..all overcome with a simple broadband link.

Everything is changing. The trick is to change with the times.

Somehow, so far, at least, people still seem to find new things to do, or new ways to do old things, to earn an income.

But, as a man gets older in life, it's harder to adapt. Somehow, he's got to save during his youth, because everyone is going to face the same kinds of challenges later in life.

Read this.

theweek

originally posted by: AMPTAH

originally posted by: Willtell

So that’s what they call this devolution into slavery--the Gig Economy!
..
Uber and other modern predatory companies and of course the politicians who take their money will be responsible for the destruction of modern civilization eventually, as they bribe the politicians to ruin and destroy any vestige left of the underclass’s rights, and self respect.

Taxi drivers were protected by arbitrary rules that imposed heavy license fees and regulations on them.

I once saw a cop pull over a Taxi Cab and fined the driver for driving a "dirty" cab. I didn't even know they could to that.

No cop ever pulled me over because my car was dirty. But, then again, I'm not providing a service to the community with my car. I don't think any Uber driver would be pulled over just because their car is filty, they are not even easy to spot.

So..with barrier to entry gone, the old Taxi drivers lost their advantage.

A lot of newspapers lost their advantage when the internet came and enabled every Tom and Joe to set up his own news site. All the capital cost of investing in printing press, and distribution equipment, trucks and vans, etc..all overcome with a simple broadband link.

Everything is changing. The trick is to change with the times.

Somehow, so far, at least, people still seem to find new things to do, or new ways to do old things, to earn an income.

But, as a man gets older in life, it's harder to adapt. Somehow, he's got to save during his youth, because everyone is going to face the same kinds of challenges later in life.

Exactly... You have to adapt. No one is safe, no matter how much you make or how smart you may think you are. Sooner or later, somebody will figure out how to disrupt your market space.

I work in mortgages. Top guys in my business can earn well into the 7 figures. However, technology has been disrupting the business and driving down profits and compensation. Regulations and some other barriers have protected us, but sooner or later the business will be disrupted by tech. I see the writing on the wall.

One area of our business is appraisals. It can take like four years to become a fully licensed appraiser. Guess what? We now get appraisal waivers on some mortgages. A computer looks at statistical data and determines if an appraiser is even needed. Think about that... these guys are about to have their entire world turned upside down. The smart ones are already figuring out how to move on but some guys will be hanging on till they can't anymore.

I plan on retiring in 15 years, but I don't even know if I can make it that far given fast the technology has been improving. I've basically decided I am out of my industry in five years. I will be starting a new business. I just decided I can't wait around only to be caught off guard. Anyone paying attention should be able to see what is happening.

Too many people get too complacent in life. No one is safe.

a reply to: Edumakated

I agree that people have to move on. There are only so many of the jobs yet to be effected by tech out there, and when the market is flooded with newbies (going after the unaffected jobs), guess what happens to pay and working conditions....(they go down)

And as I said there are only so many jobs-we are indeed in a pickle.



,,,

a reply to: seasonal

What's incredible simple is the thought pattern you were responding to.

a reply to: Bone75

Well to put it bluntly 10 years ago I got in a fender bender and at the time one could drive without insurance if you paid a yearly 400$ fee to DMV (not sure if its still a thing). Anyway I was poor and had a 500$ 1986 Corsica and used that to get to give as a stagehand. Anyway back to the fender bender...it had just stopped raining down in VA Beach and rush hour traffic was in full swing. I was heading to a friends during some down time from a gig I was on when some jackass 3 cars up decided he was going to slam on his breaks 50' before a turn...this caused a chain of cars breaking as fast as they could...well my POS car ended up braking in a 6" puddle and slid into the car in front of me...somehow the officer finds me at fault because...get this...it wasn't raining at the time. He said that since it wasn't still raining I was at fault as opposed to a no fault. Of course the guy who caused it never had to deal with a thing. Anyway everything was fine no one hurt everyone out walking around. I felt with their insurance companies directly a few times but the calls stopped coming. Next thing I know 5 years later I am in a DMV being told my license is suspended. Apparently they just sued me for damages and get this...15,000$ in rehab for "whiplash" in a fender bender that was at impact about 15-20mph. The company who held the debt had my license suspended and when I reached out they wanted more than I could pay. Here I sit 10 years later no license...so I uber cause I cant afford to pay them which ubering doesn't help as it cost a fortune...but how to make money with no ride to go to work...so I eat that cost. Here its a 2hr or more bus trip to work due to traffic...so 4hrs of ride 8hrs of work no thanks.

I am working on a loan from family to help me rectify this but its moving slowly and was only recently extended that courtesy. Anyway that's the story behind that.

Also I love what I do I work as a lighting tech for live events. I worked damn hard to be where I am to do what I love. I am lucky to have a degree and use it from what I hear as well.

Edit: and still even after all of that...I haven't ever put a shotgun to my head and blamed it on anyone else!

originally posted by: LookingForABetterLife
As a former driver for Yellow Cab. I understand his pain. The only way to make any money is to work 20 hour days 7 days a week. With all your money going towards gas and car lease, there was little left over to survive on. Cab driving is a job I wish everyone knows is nothing but a way to have your wallet connected to a money sucking vacuum clear operated by big companies and big government.

Sounds like a job not to get into and if you are in it to get out. I'm sure there are a lot of jobs like this that should be geared towards people just starting in the job market, but people try to make a career out of it.

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: Bone75


Also I love what I do I work as a lighting tech for live events. I worked damn hard to be where I am to do what I love. I am lucky to have a degree and use it from what I hear as well.

Edit: and still even after all of that...I haven't ever put a shotgun to my head and blamed it on anyone else!

Moral of the story never drive without insurance.... Never ever...

a reply to: RickyD

some jackass 3 cars up decided he was going to slam on his breaks 50' before a turn...this caused a chain of cars breaking as fast as they could...well my POS car ended up braking in a 6" puddle and slid into the car in front of me...somehow the officer finds me at fault because...

because... you should have allowed more room between yourself and the cars in front of you due to poor conditions.

It doesn't matter why stupid people stop suddenly in front of you for no reason. All that matters is you hit them.

They make cheap dash cams, if your business is driving, get one?

a reply to: Xtrozero

Young and dumb...lessons learned...costly lessons.

originally posted by: seasonal

It is interesting how he breaks down IQ levels to what type of skills a person can expect to have. It was also interesting that towards the end he talked about trying to train a person in a new skill on the lower end of the normal IQ range where the kids in his class have basically a range that they could spend 10 mins learning and do it perfect where a lower normal IQ could spend 10 hours and still need more help.

Speaks a lot as to why a good size of American workers tend to learn a repetitive skill and then repeat it for the next 50 years. He also talked about that automation wipes jobs at the lower IQ levels and then works up from there.

a reply to: intrptr

Was over a car length and a half...but trying to stop an 86' POS in 6 inches of standing water isn't easy...I slid over 10 feet. And as the officer said if it was still raining it would have been a no fault...so stupid as he,could clearly see the issue of the huge ass pool of water almost 2 lanes wide and over 2 car lengths long.

originally posted by: RickyD
a reply to: Xtrozero

Young and dumb...lessons learned...costly lessons.

I tell people that everyone makes mistakes, what you need to avoid are the irreversible ones. In this case, driving without insurance is bad but fixable...now add in you are also drunk and someone dies...that would be an irreversible mistake...

originally posted by: carewemust
a reply to: Willtell

He should have taken courses to increase his skill level and get out of that job.

Self responsibility has to come into play at some point in these situations.

Sure, he may have changed professions.

I did that and believe me it wants easy. But I don’t say to people you should have done what I did, because some of us for whatever reason can’t do it.

Its hard…

I went from making 50, 60 grand to 17 grand when I went from being an auto worker to an IT specialist, sure it can be done but it aint easy.

It took me years to catch up with my old salary and working two three jobs to survive when I made the change

Maybe for this guy it was not acceptable to him, that’s his choice and Ill never berate him for that…

I admire the people who stick it out for whatever reason and try to make this injustice right.

The issue to me is the cold cruel way we through away good people for “progress”

Believe me, in the end this isn’t progress if we lose our souls in the process

I've long felt like he did about our economy. Idiots at the top of management who can't do anything but shuffle papers and lie with a straight face make 3 times what the people on the floor do making actual product. Insurance underwriters driving around in Escallades while people with rare talents are driving around in beaters that might not run tomorrow.

We've lost respect for the average working person, the people at the bottom of the totem pole without which nobody at the top could live so comfortably. Sure we all need to adapt to changes in the economy but good God! Who can keep up with this rate of change? Nobody! It's a total crapshoot trying to pick a skill to turn in to a vocation - that job may not even be in existence in 10 years.

I don't know how to fix it but I do know that it was never made for the benefit of workers, just the very few living from the sweat, toil and misery of others.

a reply to: AMPTAH

That’s why to use a metaphor, you just don’t slam on the breaks and make radical changes to placate the greed of a few and ruin peoples lives.

The problems facing the city’s taxi drivers have become so bad, Ms. Desai said, that even on New Year’s Eve many complained that they roamed around unable to pick up fares. At about that time she had received a call from a woman who runs a community radio station in the Bronx, with an audience made up mostly of Dominican livery drivers. Two drivers that the host knew of had killed themselves and other drivers were on the show talking about the isolation and fear they saw all around them.

In the days preceding his death, Mr. Schifter wrote about his decreasing faith in our politics and about his commitments to his spiritual life. “Forget the cliché you only live once it is not true,” he said in a Facebook post. “The clues are all about you if you take the time to seek them.”

www.nytimes.com...