Are You Just An Uber Driver?
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The other day, I came across a comment from political pundit Matt Bennett that stopped me in my tracks. He essentially said that we don’t need ICE arresting Uber Eats drivers.
Now, maybe he didn’t mean any harm. Perhaps it was just a passing example in a bigger conversation about immigration policy. But to me, it came across as a quiet dismissal, as if being “just” an Uber Eats driver somehow makes the work less valuable, less worthy of consideration.
And that sentiment, even if unintended, reveals something bigger: how society often measures worth, and how easily we devalue certain kinds of work.
The Immigration Angle
Bennett’s comment also serves as unintentional proof of something most of us already know: many corporations, including gig platforms like Uber, Lyft, and DoorDash, find ways to employ undocumented workers. Whether directly or through lax oversight, it’s a reality that keeps wages low.
It’s the same logic behind the old “Who’s going to pick your strawberries?” line. We want cheap food, so we collectively tolerate a system where laborers work grueling jobs for barely livable wages. And yes, I’m guilty too, I don’t want to pay $12 for a pint of strawberries. But that doesn’t mean we should turn a blind eye to the human cost.
The truth is, supply and demand set the pay for most jobs, not skill level. Lawyers, for example, aren’t necessarily paid well because the work is often more challenging; they’re paid well because the profession is heavily gatekept through expensive law school and the bar exam.
If you flooded the market with lawyers the way gig apps flood the market with drivers, lawyer pay would collapse, too.
The Status Game
Hearing “just an Uber driver” prompts me to reflect on my own status. Am I low on society’s totem pole? Maybe, economically speaking. But money isn’t the only measure of value.
I live a life I enjoy. I’m loved by my family. God loves me. My days are full of moments that matter. That’s not something you can put a dollar figure on.
Driving people is not meaningless work. It’s a service that connects people to jobs, groceries, medical care, family gatherings, and yes, sometimes just a safe ride home after a night out. Food delivery is the same; it’s a luxury, sure, but it’s one that people enjoy and value. And somebody has to make it happen.
Why This Matters for Gig Workers
Whether you’re delivering sushi at midnight or driving someone to the airport at 4 a.m., you are doing work that matters. That should be recognized, not brushed aside.
Immigration policy, wage policy, and corporate strategy all shape our earnings, but they don’t define our worth. The apps don’t care about us as much as they care about keeping costs down. Many passengers don’t think about who’s behind the wheel. But we know. We know the job requires skill, including navigating traffic, managing safety, reading people’s moods, and sometimes even diffusing tension.
You are not just a driver. You are a driver. And that is enough.
Final Thoughts
I’m not arguing that Uber drivers should be paid the same as lawyers. I’m saying every profession plays a role in making society function. We need all of them, from political pundits to strawberry pickers, from busboys to bus drivers.
If Matt Bennett or anyone else had their livelihood threatened by an influx of cheaper replacements, they’d see it differently.
So, no, I’m not just an Uber driver. I’m someone who shows up, does the work, and makes people’s lives a little easier. And if you’re out there doing the same, know this: I’m cheering for you.
