Uber needs to be run out of town

Taxis are dead. The only reason they are still in business is:

1) They are visible, and can pick up people that would rather get a ride immediately than call.
2) A small percentage of riders don't trust ride sharing programs. 
3) Some cities ban ride sharing companies. 

The fact is the taxi industry deserves this:
- The scam with the plates, resulting in drivers not getting paid much and former politicians making big money. 
- Lack of technology. I get in a taxi, supply the address, and cab drivers still ask where that is. Use GPS.
- Lack of service. Taxi drivers have no incentive to avoid talking on their phones, open doors or help with bags. 
- Dog policy. Ever try getting a cab when you have a dog? Almost impossible. Easy with Uber. 

There's also a lot of misinformation in this thread:

1) Uber is not making a ton of money. In fact they are losing record amounts. 
2) The drivers were not making under minimum wage. With the change to the law, some might be, after factoring in for gas, insurance, and depreciation of the car. 

The real problem is that Uber is engaging in predatory pricing. They are intentionally keeping prices low, while losing money in order to destroy the Taxicab infrastructure, at which point, I suspect they will drive up the prices, when there are no alternatives.

At least there is Lyft, but given Uber's past behaviour, it's reasonable to think that the Uber CEO would attempt to collude with Lyft, so they both make exorbitant money. 

I have always loved taking taxis. Sure, not every driver was the greatest but for the most part they have been decent and efficient and some cases exceptionally great. The taxi companies are adding "apps" and online booking to compete but when I questioned drivers the last few times I took a cab, they confirmed that it means less hours/work for dispachers. I told him I would keep calling so as to help keep an additional person employed.

Are you being facetious, Magoo? I certainly do make a point of going to a cashier at my local supermarket as opposed to self-serve check-out. I'm not familiar with a trend to replace dishwashers in restaurants (as in someone responsible for making sure the dishes are washed whether they run industrial machines or scrub by hand).

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I'm not familiar with a trend to replace dishwashers in restaurants (as in someone responsible for making sure the dishes are washed whether they run industrial machines or scrub by hand

Isn't that always the way, though? 

"Don't worry!  Someone will still be needed to program the robots!"

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The city should rebuy any taxi licence the owner no longer wants.

For the same price it was initally sold for?  Or the bitcoin-like price it's now worth, when supply falls monumentally short of demand?

IIRC, a taxi plate in Toronto, on those rare days that one is offered, cost less than $2k from the city, but are offered for re-sale for 50 times that or more.

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I think the idea of Uber, people with private cars using them as taxis, is also a great idea. They just need more competition.

Well, there's Lyft, about ten taxi companies, public transit, car shares like AutoShare and ZipCar, cycling or walking.