Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Things, even food, are much easier to carry than people. What does that say about us?

Uber and others have discovered that it is far more profitable to carry meals than to carry the consumers of meals. People can be such a nuisance. We want the car to have the right odor, the right decor, no crumbs on the carpet (when did we start assuming that cars would be carpeted?), and all sorts of things we don’t even mention until they aren’t present.

Hauling food pays more than hauling persons. Sure, food is important (can’t live without it), but aren’t people more important?

What does this say about us? (1) Have we over-regulated and over-expected the transport of persons? (2) Have we under-regulated and under-expected the transport of food? (3) Have we ourselves become so much of “a pain” to one another that we are much happier without one another’s company?

I know little about (1) and (2), so let’s consider (3). A large sack of food in the passenger seat (note how we call it a “passenger” seat and not a “cargo” seat?) never complains, never comments, never bothers the driver. The sack of food also never thanks the driver. Does the passenger thank the driver beyond a quick obligatory mumble while exiting the vehicle?

The sack of food has few expectations of the driver. Does a human passenger have expectations of the driver? Wouldn’t we just be happier if the vehicle drove itself?

The driver has the life of the passenger in hand. That isn’t important? I guess not, and what does that say about us?