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Comment by robbick | Hacker News Reader

> "Driving isn't really something that should be a career."

Why not?

In my country (Poland), cabs are not regulated very heavily, which leads to a flood of drivers, and low prices. In result, in many towns even by driving 10 hours a day (most of which is spent waiting for customers) you're making not much above the minimum wage. As a result, driving a cab has become in large part an extra source of income for retired cops or other people who retire early (say in their fourties).

I don't see nothing wrong with that - it's a job that requires no qualifications, has no boss, flexible hours, is not demanding physically or intellectually. In short - a dream job for many people. It only makes sense for it to pay less than say a grueling job at a factory.

This question would have made sense 10-20 years ago.

No, I'm still confused. What is the problem with being a taxi driver for life and expecting a good wage?

Only middle class professionals have "a career" and therefore deserve to have enough money to live on, don't you know.

It's the primary reason we don't need a minimum wage - working in the service industry or any other relatively unskilled work isn't "a career" so it doesn't matter if it only pays 2 bucks an hour, so goes the reasoning because nobody should be expecting to do it for long or make a life out of it.

It's myopic.

If teachers can’t be expected to support their family off their income, why should someone doing something that can be crowd sourced as a side gig? Just because I can make $15 tying peoples shoes doesn’t mean that I’m entitled to support a family off of it.

Because it is in your(society) interest that people can support themselves and their families with just one job. Otherwise you end up spending more on benefits and support not to mention on all the problems that come with chronic unemployment.

>> If teachers can’t be expected to support their family off their income,

Why the f*ck should teachers not be paid enough to support themselves and have a life? Wow.

Low barrier to entry.

> and expecting a good wage

Wait, you added that part just now.

I don't see why you couldn't drive a taxi for a living (though I don't know if that is all that was meant by "career"), but taking for granted that you will be paid well seems off.

> No, I'm still confused. What is the problem with being a taxi driver for life and expecting a good wage?

No, I'm still confused. What is the problem with being an elevator operator for life and expecting a good wage?

It makes perfect sense now.

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