Uber already produces enormous amounts of consumer surplus. Two examples would be making it possible to get a ride while black and making it possible to get a ride while in San Francisco. If you feel they should go out of business unless they can live up to your standards cool but taxi regulators will be just as effective at protecting consumers after Uber goes out of business as before it existed.

Like what? Remember that taxis drivers are also independent contractors[1]. Is there evidence that a better business model is possible?

[1] http://www.unitedworkerscongress.org/taxi-drivers.html

Most of the problems with taxi drivers (and taxis) is that they are independent contractors. If you think you can offer a better service by controlling what your employees can and can’t do then that is fine, but don’t pretend that they are not employees just to get out of paying taxes and benefits.

And why do you or any specific group of people get to decide what "real wages and benefits" means?

The specific group of people is the voting populace of the United States which has clearly defined the minimum wage that is allowed to be paid to an employee and also legally required benefit structure.

They get to decide because they are us and we vote to prevent brutal gilded-age era exploitation and abuse by companies, who are unbelievably powerful and can essentially decide on any terms in the employment contract which workers must accept, unless we vote to make them illegal.

I think Uber drivers should be able to decide what "real wages and benefits" means, and they should have the right to make that decision collectively if they so choose.

I think they get to decide it because they are the ones most directly affected.

The other option is Uber, but I think there's too much of a conflict of interest. Uber's primary interest is to maximize profits for Uber, not to maximize the profits of its subcontractors.