Uber Drives Away from Kansas

Uber continues to suffer from uneven publicity. For all the fuss Wall Street has lavished on the app-driven car service, a surprising number of domestic municipalities have frowned over Uber's tactics and apparent distaste for regulations determined by democratically elected bodies.

The latest black eye comes from, of all places, Kansas. The home of extreme right-wing politics sent Uber a clear message that the state, not Uber, would determine driver suitability and insurance requirements. According to a story in siliconvalley.com, both houses of Kansas' legislature overcame Governor Sam Brownback's veto regarding laws pertaining to Uber's services.

Uber's response was to pout and stomp out of the state. Ironically, Uber, whose CEO embraces the free-market mantle, has experienced its share of defeats in profoundly conservative areas, such as Boise, Idaho. Perhaps "free" has its limits.