Bernie claims he's pro-union and anti-Uber. So why does he use Uber for 100% of his rides?

[pnwmom]

Last edited Tue Apr 12, 2016, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Yup, he’s got "serious problems" with Uber on his website, but in 2015 he was 100% for Uber when he or his staff needed a ride. By comparison, Hillary and her staff used it only 41% of the time.

This is part of the serious disconnect both Bernie and many of his supporters have with regard to their “socialist beliefs.” A real socialist wouldn’t be supporting Uber over unionized, regulated taxi drivers, and yet millions of young people – and Bernie – choose to save money that way.

I get why Ted Cruz would use Uber 97% of the time. He’s a tea party guy. But with all Bernie’s multimillions in campaign funds, he doesn’t need to save money on the backs of taxi drivers.

However, this analysis only covers Bernie’s 2015 car ride expenses. So is he still such a heavy user of Uber?
When he’s in NY, is he finally taking unionized taxi rides or is he continuing to prefer his Uber app?

http://www.dailydot.com/politics/which-candidates-most-money-uber-lodging/

Nov. 4, 2015

Share of each campaign’s total taxi and ride-hailing app expenses paid to Uber:

Bernie Sanders: 100%

Ted Cruz: 97%

Donald Trump: 56%

Hillary Clinton: 41%

(Kasich wasn’t included in the analysis)



http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-08-06/bernie-sanders-takes-on-clinton-welfare-legacy-as-he-woos-iowa-unions

Sanders also said he has “serious problems” with the popular car-hailing company Uber. He called it “unregulated."


Link on Bernie’s website:

https://berniesanders.com/uber-is-not-the-future-of-work/


Uber Is Not the Future of Work
NOVEMBER 18, 2015
| BY LAWRENCE MISHEL

The rise of Uber has convinced many pundits, economists, and policymakers that freelancing via digital platforms is becoming increasingly important to Americans’ livelihood. It has also promoted the idea that new technology—particularly the explosion of platforms enabling the gig economy—will fundamentally alter the future of work.

While Uber and other new companies in the gig economy receive a lot of attention, a look at Uber’s own data about its drivers’ schedules and pay reveals them to be much less consequential than most people assume. In fact, dwelling on these companies too much distracts from the central features of work in America that should be prominent in the public discussion: a disappointingly low minimum wage, lax overtime rules, weak collective-bargaining rights, and excessive unemployment, to name a few. When it comes to the future of work, these are the aspects of the labor market that deserve the most attention.

SNIP

The most prominent legal and legislative question—one that has major implications for workers in industries as varied as construction and trucking—is whether Uber drivers are being misclassified when Uber considers them independent contractors instead of actual employees. Independent contractors lack important protections, such as unemployment insurance and compensation for on-the-job injuries, that are granted to workers classified as employees. They also must pay both the employer’s and the employee’s portions of the Social-Security payroll tax. This classification also has implications for collective bargaining (as independent contractors are not covered by the legal framework enabling it) and for the overall collection of tax revenues (as the failure to report income is very common among independent

[revbones]

1. HIllary claims she's pro-women. What aren't all her staff members women? nt

[pnwmom]

5. Her staff isn't 100% male or even close to it. Why is Bernie, the Uber basher, using Uber?

[MADem]

10. Oh, you wanna go THERE? Let's do!!!!

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/03/bernie-sanders-wage-gap.html

None of the Top 10 Highest-Paid Bernie Sanders Staffers Are Women

A new report by Jezebel today looks at the gender and pay stats among the campaign staffs of our stunning primary candidates. The numbers aren't stellar — in fact, they're even worse than we imagined. Who knew!

Bernie Sanders, he of socialist fame, comes out worst in Jezebel's report, especially considering his insistence that he is a candidate for the people (women included). Of the top ten highest-paid staffers on his payroll, none are women. To make up for it, we suppose, on average women make a little under $1,000 more than men. But they're still markedly missing from his campaign's highest earners. Men are really feeling the earn, I guess?

The investigation looked at year-end finance reports of the six active candidates in the race remaining — Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and John Kasich (lol). Every campaign except for Hillary Clinton's employees significantly more men than women (Clinton has 324 women and 202 men). Cruz is the candidate with the worst pay discrepancy: On average, his male employees make $20,000 more than female employees. The rest of the report, including a list of the names and salaries of the campaign staffers plus Jezebel's methodology, can be found here.

Really can't wait to see all those Bernie Bros sharing this important information regarding their favorite candidate on Facebook!!!

http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/03/bernie-sanders-wage-gap.html

[JonLeibowitz]

52. Bernie also has many more paid women than Clinton does.

More paid men too, for that matter.

[MADem]

68. You'd think he'd win more primaries. Why do you think "paid staffers" is a good thing?

They're a complete and total waste of cash if they don't bring home wins in states that have a substantial amount of delegates.



He's late to the party.

Clinton doesn't need a massive staff. That speaks to the strength of her ideas, that she doesn't have to say, hire 240 "paid staffers" and open "14 offices" .... in South Carolina, which is what Sanders did. And we saw how that ended up.

Throwing money at people and ads, and not getting much return on investment?

There's nothing "cool" about that. That's not a "better" candidate--that's a candidate that doesn't know how to spend money wisely.

[JonLeibowitz]

69. Bernie pays all his interns. Want to bet how much he pays them?

[MADem]

71. NO, I don't want to bet, because I know he makes it a big "thing" that he pays them fifteen bucks

an hour.

All those interns in South Carolina likely laughed all the way to the bank.

[JonLeibowitz]

74. Yes, I do believe paying staffers (interns or not) is a good thing. I hope all progressives agree.

[MADem]

77. I think there are some things worth volunteering for. I wouldn't want to be paid for helping

get Clinton elected. I don't need to be "bought." My time is a GIFT.

I think there's a lesson there, if people only decide to support a candidate if they get paid fifteen bucks an hour to do it, then their allegiance is only as strong as the next payday.

I think Bernie found that out when his 240 paid staff in SC delivered "shit" to him at the end of the campaign for that state. Talk about a complete and total waste of resources.

smh!

[JonLeibowitz]

82. There are plenty of actual Sanders volunteers, don't worry. Bless your heart!

[MADem]

88. Why would I be worried? Team Bernie was the one putting down Clinton, and touting how all BS's help

got "paid."

I'll tell ya--people who are used to getting paid don't work if there's no money coming in.

People who volunteer for the love of the cause? They don't have their hand out.

But bless YOUR heart for missing the point...

[Armstead]

63. About that "on average" part....That's kinda notable too

"To make up for it, we suppose, on average women make a little under $1,000 more than men. "

It isn't just the upper echelons that matter.

And if you want to look at who had the power....Jane is the leader there,

[anigbrowl]

26. Why would a pro-women person hire only women?

This is a bizarre argument even for you.

[RandySF]

79. I don't believe that was the question.

[LexVegas]

2. Why? $$$...that's why.

[SummerSnow]

3. I'm pro chocolate chip cookies, but I will eat oatmeal raisin cookies.lol

[JI7]

4. people can use products and services while still wanting to change things

Many of us want higher minimum wage but that doesn't mean we are going to stop buying from those who pay the current minimum.

[pnwmom]

7. If Bernie were truly a union supporter he'd be taking a union taxi, like everyone else

who is a union supporter -- at least those who can afford them.

And he can.

[passiveporcupine]

41. OR maybe taxi's are not as efficient

Not as easy to grab a ride when you need one right now. Sure if you are at an airport or in a busy downtown area, you might be able to find unused taxis waiting for a customer...but if you have to call for a ride, Uber might be more responsive.

In busy campaigns, when you are rushing from place to place, you will probably pick the fastest way to move. I don't know for sure, but maybe you could ask his campaign?

It is strange that he would never use a Taxi. I would think most politicians would use whatever is available at the time. Or maybe he has a problem with the condition taxi cars are in (smell, cleanliness or something) compared to passenger vehicles driven by normal people.

I think I've only ridden in a Taxi once and it wasn't a "nice" ride. It was kind of smelly. IF it is all that vehicle is used for, and it's used that way all day, five days a week or more, it might not be as nice as a regular use vehicle.

[Fawke Em]

8. Correct.

I hate Comcast, but I have to use it because of the Internet speeds. I'd prefer our cable industry be more like Europe's and I can work to change it, but, in the meantime, I have to use what I have.

Not a hard concept.

[pnwmom]

13. Bernie doesn't need to use Uber 100% of the time. He CHOOSES to avoid UNION TAXIS,

while pretending to support unions.

That's deeply hyocritical.

[CrowCityDem]

29. That...

... sounds just like the argument that you can take campaign money from someone without being bought and sold by them.

[MADem]

6. But but but (Shirley Temple POUT) .... it's OK if it's Berrrrrrnie!!!!!

The rules don't apply to him!!!

[NurseJackie]

24. ... :-)

[mcar]

67. ...

[MADem]

72. There it is!!!!! LOL!!!! nt

[Perogie]

83. That would have been funny

If you knew what a pout was.

[Fawke Em]

9. As long as he's not knocking average cab riders aside so he can do a photo-op, who cares?

[pnwmom]

11. Union workers and union taxi drivers. He's not supporting them if he's taking Uber.

And neither is anyone else who uses Uber, though some people can't afford anything else. That doesn't apply to Bernie.

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. So it's a matter of degrees then? Bernie does it 100% but Hillary only 41%? Bernie more, Bernie Bad?

[pnwmom]

19. Yes. When traveling all over the country, as they do, there could be times when Uber

is the only realistic choice.

But that couldn't be true 100% of the time.

Even Ted Cruz uses taxis 3% of the time.

[Fawke Em]

70. You do know that many states don't have unionized taxi drivers, right?

[Prism]

12. Being pro-union doesn't mean approving of everything a union does

Try the taxi experience in San Francisco sometime.

You'll very quickly learn why people prefer ride-sharing.

[pnwmom]

16. When I go to CA I take union taxis. Always. Yes, there could be times

when I might consider Uber, but I haven't found the need to do it yet.

And there's no excuse for a union-supporter with the financial means to take a taxi to be using Uber exclusingly.

[Prism]

22. Well, hooray for you

I loathe the taxi industry here and make no bones about it.

Perhaps if they weren't a rigged, crony prone system, expensive, constantly rude to their riders, and were ever held accountable for the state of their cars, it'd be a different story.

That doesn't make me anti-union. It makes me someone with a problem with the local taxi industry.

[pnwmom]

27. Uber is for libertarians, not socialists. Everything Bernie stands for is contradicted

by his constant use of Uber.

[Prism]

30. Why are you ok with child slavery?

You're using technology that was manufactured in developing nations, yeah?

Any true liberal would never condone indenturing children just so they can have luxury goods.

Right?

Tch. People make minor exceptions to their ideology in their everyday lives all the time.

If he supported a union-destroying free trade agreement, then you'd have my attention.

Ahem.

Oh, and I just want to note how funny it is you used this article, where Clinton stayed at the Ritz Carleton 9 times. Just, lol. Bernie economizes while Hillary lives like the entitled 1%.

Sounds exactly right, actually.

[pnwmom]

31. There are some things you have control over and can make choices about. Using taxis over Uber

is one of them.

I acknowledge there are times an Uber might be the best or even only choice.

But NOT 100% of the time.

[Prism]

32. Which is worse, a guy using Uber or negotiating a union-destroying trade pact?

Maybe that should take up more of your attention, since you claim you care deeply about this issue.

[pnwmom]

34. Hillary no longer supports the TPP, because the end result of negotiations wasn't adequate.

And it was Robert Reich who pushed for NAFTA, against Hillary's wishes, because she wanted healthcare to be the Administration's priority.

Robert Reich bragged about winning that battle for influence in his book.

[Prism]

38. Why do I care about Robert Reich?

I'm sure President Hillary Clinton will be totally against free trade pacts that are terrible for the country rather suddenly and uncharacteristically.

I also enjoy epic poetry and the occasional novella when browsing fiction.

[Baobab]

92. No way does Hillary not support the TPP.

Don't drink that KoolAid

BTW, word is they will try to pass it during Lame Duck session. And Obama will sign it. If that happens Bernie's platform will run into innumerably more brick walls.

[Fawke Em]

73. You can choose not to do business with authoritarian regimes who treat women like dirt.

Clinton didn't do that when she sold arms to Saudi Arabia as SoS.

[pnwmom]

75. Clinton as SoS had to carry out Obama's policies, and it wasn't Obama's policy to

discontinue business with Saudi Arabia.

Neither will it be Bernie's, if he's President.

[lostnfound]

86. Maybe he doesn't like supporting the mob. In my city, that's who runs the taxi companies

And uber is perhaps environmentally friendly, due to a very efficient call system and due to the pooling option. No comparison. And a lot of uber drivers are also cab drivers who have told me they like being uber drivers better.

[RandySF]

81. I've never had trouble getting a cab

Besides, another pedestrian was struck and killed by an Uber driver just today.

[lostnfound]

87. I've waited an hour after calling a cab, with groceries thawing.A cab driver here sexually assaulted

A woman in my town. I feel safer knowing the name and having a record and being able to track it through uber, especially if my teenager is riding in one alone. And I've had a yellow cab driver ask me a bunch of sexual questions: and two of them rip me off for an extra $40 on a $45 ride.

No, I've had LOTS of bad experiences with "regular" cabbies.

[azmom]

14. OMG Thank you for the laugh.

You never dissapoint.

[pnwmom]

17. The hypocrisy of Bernie and especially his supporters never disappoints me. n/t

[azmom]

18. Love you girl.

[imagine2015]

20. More bull shit. What makes the writer think that non-uber drivers are union members?

They clearly know little or nothing about licensed cab drivers.

[pnwmom]

23. The New York Taxi Workers alliance represents 50,000 taxi drivers.

http://www.nytwa.org/

NYTWA is a membership based non-profit union fighting for the rights of NYC's 50,000+ taxi drivers.

[imagine2015]

21. What union, in what cities and with what cab companies?

Can't answer that?

[pnwmom]

25. In New York, for example, this union: the New York Taxi Workers Alliance, 50,000+ strong.

And other regulated taxi drivers all over the country are in unions.

In my area, Western WA, there's the WWACOA representing taxi drivers.

http://www.teamstertaxi.org/

[imagine2015]

37. Which cab drivers are union members and which cab drivers have a union contract in every city?

Who has the information if you don't know?

Do you just question every driver until you find one that is working under a union contract, or do you call a cab company and ask for a union driver, assuming that company has a collective bargaining agreement with a bona fide union.

In New York if you hail down a cab on a street do you ask the driver for evidence that he or she is a union member and request to see a copy of a collective bargaining agreement?

If the driver doesn't meet your conditions, you, move on until 5, 10 or 50 cabs later you find a union driver with a union contract. Is that how that works for you?

I take it you've never hailed down a cab in the big apple.

[pnwmom]

42. All city-licensed drivers are regulated and protected in ways that Uber drivers are not.

I take it YOU'VE never hailed a cab in New York. Every driver of one of those yellow taxis is licensed and regulated, and his license is prominently displayed in his or her car.

You know what you're getting when you step in a real New York taxi.

[frylock]

53. Successful goalpost relocation.

[Nanjeanne]

28. Because his magic unicorn was in the shop for repairs? Did I win the cookie?

[pnwmom]

43. Didn't you read the post? It gave numbers for all the candidates

Hillary used Uber for rides 41% of the time. She was at the bottom of the list. Cruz used Uber 97% of the time -- which makes sense because he's the tea party guy.

[pnwmom]

50. Uber drivers are saying the same thing. But they lack the protections of licensed, unionized taxis.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Hmm curious

How does the wife of a former president with Secret Service protection and assigned driver do Uber? I will leave that one there

[riderinthestorm]

39. She has her own armored car

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/hillary-clinton-scooby-van-fender-bender-117243

[pnwmom]

44. She has staff traveling as well. And so does Bernie. Those expenses are included. n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

46. Staff travels with the SS caravan

Again, I wil just drop it here.

[pnwmom]

54. The staff takes many campaign trips without her, no secret service involved. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

56. You said her

So I will assume this was a lousy hit piece with more holes than Swiss cheese. Have fun defending an obvious hit piece with a very loud whistle. This is a very tendentious piece.

Have a good day.

[riderinthestorm]

36. Hillary has her own armored car she mostly uses.

Or a limo.

Bernie does not.

Many cities don't have union taxis. Chicago doesn't.

[imagine2015]

40. Hillary uses Uber over 40% of the time. Are you also claiming she is anti-union?

[zalinda]

45. I doubt very much that Bernie

calls his taxis, it is probably an aid. Also, there may be a time constraint, waiting for a cab. And, how many times has he used Uber? 1 or 100 times? This is a hit piece.

Z

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. The story has a few incredible large

Ahem...holes.

[hobbit709]

49. He doesn't have a chauffeur on his staff.

[zigby]

51. The non-troversies are really weak tea.

Weak tea when people raise up e-pitchforks about email systems and dumb comedy sketches, same weak tea as pope visits, subway tokens, and now this.

[Fawke Em]

76. Breaking federal law by keeping national security on an unsecured server isn't weak tea.

I may agree with the rest of your examples, but, having worked in cyber security for 10 years, I don't take the issue of our national secrets being subjected to state-sponsored hackers as something light.

[MADem]

80. You're gonna be so grrr-grrr mad when nothing comes of that~

You should worry more about those assholes with their dot gov accounts--they're the ones that get hacked.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

55. If there are union cab drivers available, then he should use them.

[DesMoinesDem]

57. I love Uber. I hope I never have to take another cab ever again.

[slipslidingaway]

58. Hillary will be attending a fundraiser on Friday at the home of this Uber investor ...

is Clinton anti-union?

Off to make phone calls for Bernie.

Sherwin Pishevar

[mhatrw]

59. Uber exploits its workers. So does the taxicab medallion system.

So who cares?

[pnwmom]

60. Bernie says he does. Read it on his website. He criticizes Uber, not the medallion system. n/t

[mhatrw]

61. Does he praise the taxicab medallion system in comparison to Uber? nt

[pnwmom]

62. He praises unions, and licensed taxi drivers in large cities belong to unions.

[riderinthestorm]

64. Not Chicago. Exactly how many places have union taxis out of everywhere he's visited?

And Hillary too. How many places have union taxis in every place she's visited? How many times/places has her limo/armored car ferried her around?

[mhatrw]

65. Not in San Francisco. The union is long broken. Cab drivers are not even considered employees.

Where did you get the idea that most cab drivers are protected by unions today?

[Hassin Bin Sober]

84. I've done plenty of mortgage loans for cab drivers in Chicago.

I've seen their financials - which consist of a stack of daily rental receipts from the companies who own the medallions.

The guy you see behind the wheel most likely doesn't own the cab or the medallion. He's an independent contractor. No Union. No benefits. No minimum wage. Nothing.

I'm no fan of the new "sharing economy" but I pretty much stopped using cabs. Even when I SHOULD be taking cabs. Tired of the bs - no working a/c or not willing to turn it on, rude drivers, refusing to take credit cards, substandard tech. integration.

I'm no fan of uber. But I know for a fact it's not Union versus non Union. Not in Chicago at least.

[mcar]

66. Oopsie

[RandySF]

78. He wants to be cool like the millenials

Who are riding taxi service out of business in SF and LA by choosing Uber. Yellow Cab, for whom my neighbor drives, just filed for bankruptcy.

[CorkySt.Clair]

94. I was in London recently

And took a taxi and asked the driver about uber. They are having the same issues over there. A lot of privileged Millenials don't much care about working people if it saves them a dollar or two.

[RandySF]

96. Uber is actually more expensive.

[Nye Bevan]

85. Uber's great. I'm not going to knock him for using it.

Once you've started, there's no going back.

[pnwmom]

90. He's anti-Uber on his website and he promotes himself as pro-union. I'd like to know how he'd

explain this to a unionized, licensed, regulated taxi driver.

[imagine2015]

89. Hillary claims she's pro-union and anti-Uber. That's why the owner of Uber is funding her campaign!

Check out the facts and ignore made up bull shit at this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511722531

[pnwmom]

91. Her advisor is also a consultant to Uber. Once again, someone thinks that because you are a client

of someone you are automatically connected to all his other clients.

No. You aren't.

[melman]

93. So

something that is really terrible to do is okay is you do it only 41% of the time. Great logic.

[one_voice]

95. I watch too much criminal minds..

I'd be afraid to take Uber.


**that's just a joke.


edited to add: the afraid part (is a joke). I do watch too much criminal minds-that's true.