Here’s a letter to DC Council member Zachary Parker.
Mr. Zachary Parker, Ward 5
DC City Council
Washington, DCReason reports that you voted against allowing autonomous vehicles on DC streets in part because you worry that these vehicles will destroy jobs for human drivers.
Your principle, then, is that the purpose of transportation services is less to transport customers as quickly, safely, and inexpensively as possible to their destinations than to employ drivers.
If your principle is sound, you shouldn’t stop at keeping robotaxis out of DC; you should apply your principle more fully.
I propose that you introduce legislation that (1) prohibits any taxi or ride-share vehicle from carrying more than one person per ride, and (2) ends funding for Metro (after all, one Metro driver transports dozens or even hundreds of people, many of whom, without Metro, would use taxis or ride-share services).
Actually, as I think about it, even such legislation doesn’t do justice to your principle. I propose instead that you introduce legislation that prohibits all forms of public transportation other than rickshaws. Think of the resulting enormous boost to employment! You’ll be a hero to workers throughout the DMV!
Sincerely,
Donald J. Boudreaux
Professor of Economics
and
Martha and Nelson Getchell Chair for the Study of Free Market Capitalism at the Mercatus Center
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA 22030
