Yes, it is a hard problem. Much of Amazon’s success is through efficiency and innovation. That should not be punished.

But scale matters. Some of these companies are too big — they should not have been allowed to get that big. Not just Amazon — but Walmart, Exxon, etc. They rival governments in their power and influence.

The gig economy is not a solution for small business: it builds no equity for the individual. It is exploitative, earning people so little that they cannot save. Gig workers must work under the terms of the gig company — gig workers cannot define their own business. They are still working for “the man” — and in the case of gig workers, the “man” provides no benefits or security. One is, essentially, prostituting oneself rather than building a future that provides independence and security.

I don’t know what the answer is, but efficiency and convenience for consumers should not be the only criteria. We need to balance the change that companies like Amazon introduce, with the well being of the entire community.