If an algorithm can be the boss, why don’t we use our own algorithms to be our own bosses?

Sir, I refer to Sarah O’Connor’s enlightening and interesting “When the boss is an algorithm” September 10.

I would not mind at all getting rid of my car, if I was sure there was a service out there that could respond reasonably well to my needs.

But my needs are in essence somewhat different than Uber drivers’ needs. I want a taxi when I need it, and they offer a taxi when their drivers feel like it.

So, in my neighborhood, and I care little about neighborhoods hundred of miles away, why could we not have a transportation cooperative, run by algorithms decided upon between users and drivers?

In fact, even if I got rid of my own car, I can easily imagine myself providing driving services using my neighbor’s car, with his remunerated permission of course, or using some collective neighborhood cars.

@PerKurowski ©

Cooperatives hit Wall Street?

Sir on the front page of your weekend issue January 19, the lead title says “Merrill to reform bonus system” and we read that they plan to “change the bank’s pay system so that it was ‛based more’ on how the whole company did; then on how the individual business did; then [on] how the individual did”

Will we perhaps soon hear Merrill suggesting all the companies they invest in to follow their cooperativistic movement lead; and also create a specialized hedge fund?