Tag Archives: Crony Capitalism

The Sharing Economy Fights Back Against Regulators

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“What started with a few enterprising individuals willing to let complete strangers sleep in their homes and use their possessions has now developed into a formidable economic force that threatens to upend several different industries.  Along the way, it has posed some major legal challenges.  The companies that are pushing it forward have continually undermined local ordinances, consumer safeguards, and protectionist regulations alike.  As a result, governments around the country are trying to rein them in.  That’s where Silicon Valley’s newest advocacy group comes in.  Peers is a self-described ‘grassroots organization’ that launched to ‘mainstream, protect, and grow the sharing economy.'”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tarunwadhwa/2013/09/16/the-sharing-economy-fights-back-against-regulators-with-an-advocacy-group/

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California becomes first state in nation to regulate ride-sharing

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“Under the proposal, the PUC would have jurisdiction over ride-sharing under a new category of businesses called transportation network companies. The agency would also issue licenses to the services.  The decision is expected to preempt efforts by California cities to oversee or even ban ride-sharing under their authority to license taxi cab firms. Regulators would require drivers to undergo criminal background checks, receive driver training, follow a zero-tolerance policy on drugs and alcohol and carry insurance policies with a minimum of $1 million in liability coverage.”

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-state-regulators-ok-ridesharing-20130919,0,2583487.story

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Ben Swann Reality Check: Monsanto and Crony Capitalism

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“Ben Swann Reality Check takes a look at three controversies surrounding food company ‘Monsanto’. Plus, is Monsanto one of the best examples of America’s crony capitalist system.”

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Terrible News: Mark Zuckerberg Does D.C.

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EPJ13

“Mark Zuckerberg appears to have learned the lessons of his Silicon Valley predecessors — he’s not waiting to get caught in Washington’s cross hairs before trying to find friends on Capitol Hill.  In a rare personal lobbying blitz, the 29-year-old Facebook CEO and billionaire is slated this week to meet with top Senate and House Republican and Democratic leaders and the chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee.[…]  Zuckerberg’s visit also highlights his company’s ongoing shift from a thriving tech startup in Silicon Valley to a prominent corporation with vested interests in Washington.”

http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2013/09/terrible-news-mark-zuckerberg-does-dc.html

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Georgia congressman complains: ‘I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year’

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“A Georgia Republican congressman was caught complaining about what he described as a low salary in a closed-door meeting with fellow party members concerning the Affordable Care Act. During a discussion concerning a possible exemption for lawmakers and staff members from taking part in the state health exchanges mandated by the new law, Rep. Phil Gingrey (R-GA) reportedly lamented that aides can become lobbyists ‘and make 500,000 a year. Meanwhile I’m stuck here making $172,000 a year.’  USA Today reported that Gingrey’s net worth is estimated to be between $3 million and $7.6 million, while the median household income in Georgia is $49,736.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/18/georgia-repub-complains-im-stuck-here-making-172000-a-year/

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Farm subsidies on the rise in the world’s biggest economies

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“Farm subsidies in the world’s biggest economies rose in 2012, the OECD said, reversing a long-term trend as governments poured more funding into agriculture despite strained budgets and high food prices.  In its annual report on global farming, the OECD said state support for farming stood at an average of one-sixth of gross farm receipts in the 47 countries covered in the assessment, about 17 percent of total receipts in 2012 compared to 15 percent in 2011.  The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said the rise was unnecessary as high prices for farmers made the timing opportune for governments to cut subsidies that skew food markets and disrupt trade.”

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/09/18/farm-subsidies-on-the-rise-in-the-worlds-biggest-economies/

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Could You Be Arrested For Offering A Lyft?

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“The Internet has yet again found a way for you to make money with minimal start-up costs…and the government is right there to ready to ruin it on behalf of some entrenched interests.  We’ve already covered how to start up your own B-N-B (‘Bed, No Breakfast’) via Airbnb. We’ve also covered how the hotel lobbies in various popular cities have appealed to local and state governments to shut down Airbnb so that the individual entrepreneurs it enables don’t pose a threat to the hotel industry’s income. All in the name of ‘safety’, of course.  Now the same thing is happening in the cab industry. Lyft is allowing people to use their existing cars to become cab drivers after a vetting process.”

http://dollarvigilante.com/blog/2013/9/17/could-you-be-arrested-for-offering-a-lyft.html

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Why We Can’t Have Nice Things: Uber And Lyft Drivers Being Arrested

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“The two services, Lyft and (this part of) Uber are simply electronic methods of hitching a ride. That electronic thumb replacing the one waving by the side of the road. That’s it, really, that’s all they are: and yet airport authorities are arresting people for doing this?  We could of course take them seriously, at their word, that this is all about safety, but why bother to do that when we can look at the larger picture? Which is that every taxi company and commission in the country has been desperately searching for a reason not to allow these services to operate. Even when they do allow it, it’s only after 18 months or so of procrastination.”

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2013/08/03/this-is-why-we-cant-have-nice-things-uber-and-lyft-drivers-being-arrested/

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A Brilliant Idea

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http://www.economicpolicyjournal.com/2013/09/a-brilliant-idea.html

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Virginia City Hides Data Showing Increased Red Light Camera Injuries

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“After holding out for more than three years, officials in Virginia Beach, Virginia finally released accident data that raise serious questions about whether the use of red light cameras has improved traffic safety in the city. The number of injury accidents went down 12 percent throughout the city. At the twelve intersections where red light camera tickets are issued, however, injury accidents went up 5 percent over the same period.  After finally releasing the information, city officials dismissed the relevance of the climbing injury rate.  As of January, the cameras had issued 199,463 citations worth $10 million.  $7.3 million worth of tickets have been issued solely to vehicles making rolling right turns on red.”

http://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4206.asp

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