The reason for the US' horrible state of affairs: corruption. Ever since regulation of the taxi industry started, the 'players' in each city decided to use this artificial constraint to enrich themselves. Medallions (the right to drive a cab in a city) were doled out to the politically connected, who, in turn, rented them out to the actual workers (drivers) for a tidy sum. It was a great scam.
If there's one positive thing about Uber, it's that they brought an end to this medallion monopoly.
If there's one positive thing about Uber, it's that they brought an end to this medallion monopoly.