Residents of the nation’s capital face a growing likelihood that they’ll have to pay a lot more simply to get around in a private vehicle. The District of Columbia Council’s fetish for overregulation and seemingly corrupt deference to the Uber rideshare firm’s lobbying is the reason why.

Such absurdity is the D.C. Council norm. The council excels at being both hyper-ideological and policy illiterate. Its members define themselves by pro-crime, pro-cronyism, and, as in the case of councilman Trayvon White, apparent pro-corruption policies. Mayor Muriel Bowser is only a little better. Bowser has used critical public services such as the city’s 911 call center as patronage landing spots for her incompetent friends. In return, city residents get the privilege of being walloped in their wallets. D.C. already has some of the nation’s highest tax rates, with income taxes set at 8.5% on earnings between $60,000 up to $250,000, and sales taxes set at 6%-10% (from next October, 7%-10%). But the council and its D.C. government partners are also determined to make residents subservient to powerful corporate interests.

A case in point is their obedience to Uber in its war with competitor Empower. When Uber first entered the D.C. market in late 2011, it found great success by offering a cheaper and better service than local taxicab companies. But to secure this success and its later dominant position as the city’s rideshare service of choice, Uber........

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