News broke this weekend that Memphis is following in the footsteps of protectionists in Pennsylvania and Virginia, ordering Uber and Lyft to cease operations. The rideshare companies have riled up the taxi industry, which as I wrote in a previous blog post, operate a near cartel in tandem with most major cities. Cities and states have begun to “crack down” on Uber and Lyft, and now Memphis is kowtowing to the cabbies’ demands. As the protectionists frame it, safety is their utmost concern. Interestingly, these rideshare companies might actually lead to greater safety. A new article outlines how DUIs have dropped by 11 percent in Philadelphia since the services became available in the city. While, as the article points out, correlation and causation are not interchangeable, the concept is certainly logical. So when the taxi industry crows that the government must stop Uber and Lyft in the name of safety, data may begin to force them to tweak their messaging. Of course, it’s hard to simply argue that the government should trample on consumer demand and technology just because the competition resulting therefrom cuts into your bottom line. I’ll bet they keep that one in their back pocket for now. -Justin Owen
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
LATEST POSTS
The Boom of Vocational Programs Across the Country—and in Tennessee
Tennessee policymakers should keep note of the trends at vocational schools and see the value of these programs, not simply for earnings and...
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Property Rights
According to a Beacon poll released this week, the rising cost of housing is among the most significant barriers that Tennesseans face on th...
Beacon Poll: April Results
Today, we released our fourth quarterly Beacon Poll, a statewide survey of 1,197 registered Tennessee voters comprised of questions about po...
The Haynes Family and the Benefits of Parental Choice in Education
Parents across Tennessee are able to exercise school choice, but only if they have the financial means to do so. That could all change with...
School Choice in Tennessee: An Administrator’s Point of View
All of us enjoy the freedom to choose when we marry a spouse, buy a car, or simply purchase a cup of coffee. Why shouldn’t parents have the...
Twenty States Have Some Form of Universal License Recognition. Why Not Tennessee?
As a state experiencing significant in-migration, it's crucial to welcome new additions to our workforce without imposing unnecessary barrie...
Tennessee: The Asterisk State—An Excerpt from “Modern Davids”
On the final day of the 2016 legislative session, lawmakers voted to repeal the Hall Tax. Jon and Linda remain engaged in Beacon’s work to t...
From Colour to Color and from Blockchain to Staking: How Definitions Pave the Way
Just as Noah Webster paved the way for a new language, Tennessee lawmakers today have the opportunity to make our state a hub for new jobs,...
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH US
WANT TO DO A STORY ABOUT SOMETHING YOU SEE HERE?
CONTACT US AT:
mark@beacontn.org
(O) 615-383-6431
WHO ARE WE?
The Beacon Center of Tennessee empowers Tennesseans to reclaim and protect their freedoms, so that they can freely pursue their version of the American Dream.