As the ride-hailing outfit Uber has continued its assault on the established taxi industry—oftentimes with dubious legality—the company’s CEO, Travis Kalanick, has often repaired to an essentially humanitarian argument to make his case for the company. Specifically, Kalanick says that Uber is great for the drivers it
uses as independent contractors.

“In many ways, we look at Uber as the safety net for a city,” Kalanick said earlier this year, meaning that if, say, a factory were to close, Uber would provide ready employment to legions of the laid off. The tech honcho has also frequently talked up the flexibility that the company provides for its drivers. “They can push a button and get to work. They can push a button and stop working,” he says.