[PatentTroll]

And what about AirBnb? Or any of the many 'gig economy' startups that flaunt labor laws? I agree with the article. Let's not punish innovation, but let's make sure we don't get a new normal of startups making money by breaking the law. And not just abstract policy wonk big gummint type of law, but like the things that make sure people don't get taken advantage of and are safe.

[CodeWriter23]

Your expensive rent, you can thank AirBNB for that, and they should be burned to the ground. The simple fact that the author glosses over is ridesharing, despite its scofflaw roots, has been legitimized and codified into law, because it is good for people and the people want it. Whereas what we're seeing with AirBNB is legislation to strictly curtail their activity. Because their activity is bad for people, and people who are locals don't want it.

[didibus]

Where I'm front, that's solved by allowing renters to sublet. So I know ton of people who affort rent by having one room be an airbnb, or doing airbnb once a weekend.

[naravara]

>Your expensive rent, you can thank AirBNB for that

My rent was expensive for years before AirBnB came on the scene. AirBnB might put some slight upward pressure on rents in markets with a lot of tourism, but it pales in comparison to the simple fact that supply does not meet demand. Thank the zoning regs and lack of transit investment in less-urban parts of your metro area.

[Jabanga]

The laws restrict the right of people to do with their labour and private property what they want. They should be left unenforced, just like laws against marijuana and other personal choices. Driving things out of the formal economy and into the informal economy, and punishing people for engaging in voluntary interactions - in the name of 'protecting' them - has very harmful unintended consequences and goes against the foundational principles of liberal democracy.

Moreover, restricting voluntary economic interactions behind a wall of regulatory licensing schemes, like hotel licenses and taxi licenses, exacerbates income inequality:

https://www.brookings.edu/research/make-elites-compete-why-t...

In short, there's no commonly advocated policy more harmful to society than what you're advocating.

[ubernostrum]

The laws restrict the right of people to do with their labour and private property what they want.

When the choices you make with respect to the use of your property cause harm to other people or their property, they have the right to stop you and to recover damages for harm you've caused. When your voluntary transaction has involuntary (for other people) effects on others' property, they have the right to stop your transaction.

[bmpafa]

Moreover, restricting voluntary economic interactions behind a wall of regulatory licensing schemes, like hotel licenses and taxi licenses, exacerbates income inequality

Airbnb was valued at $31bn after its last round. As of market close today, that's about more than the market caps of Hilton & Intercontinental combined.

Despite what the astroturfing campaigns of Airbnb et al would have you believe, regulations are meant to, in part, protect competition. If we're unsatisfied with them, we ought to use elections to change them. But allowing private firms to engage in Uber's brand of regulatory arbitrage severely undermines gov't institutions.

[PatentTroll]

What you fail to grasp is that your rights end where others begin, and there's more people in the world who aren't you than who are you. Grow up.

Let's get rid of doctor licensing then? The free market will separate the good ones from the ones who will kill you! Pyramid schemes? You have the right to invest in one, so why outlaw it? Toxic waste dump? Go for it! Don't let the evil law stop you! Seriously, you're incredibly dull if you cannot grasp the consequences of your words. Each and every one of these hated laws came about as a result of something bad happening, and people were like "yeah, let's prevent that from happening again." Then everything is good, and idiots like you come by and scream about the big gubmint keepin you down! The horrors! Well go back in time then you moron, to the time when slavery existed (there's a law against that) or kids worked in coal mines (there's a law against that) without safety equipment (nor laws) or taxi drivers didn't carry insurance (dreaded regulations that Uner flaunted).