IMO, the *real* reason for commercial licenses was the concept that commercial drivers are driving much larger vehicles that require special training/skills to operate safely on the roadways.
I'm pretty sure the real reason is to make more money from licensing people who are in turn making a profit from that license. The gov't could just issue a straight vehicle license and leave it up to the owner of a vehicle to get whatever training is required to operate it safely, but they don't because there's more money to be had from fees on commercial enterprises.
If Uber or Lyft drivers are getting paid to drive passengers around then they should have to follow the same rules as other commercial drivers. Maybe those rules should be changed. Maybe regulations on cab companies are unduly restrictive to limit competition and that should be fixed. But, I don't think a "cab" company that just happens to allow its passengers to find rides using the internet should get a pass on the rules that cab companies with proper dispatchers and fleets have to follow.
If the rules are useless or harmful, change the rules. Don't grant exemptions just because the internet is involved.
Conservatives are hesitant to change things, so they don't screw things up.
That might be true of conservative individuals. I think most Americans if you just sit them down for a nice chat are reasonable people. We tend to understand that there is room for improvement and solutions might not be simple or comfortable for everyone.
Politics is a whole 'nother thing though. Politics in America is about nothing more than hot-button issues and campaign posters now. No one wants an actual solution to any problem in Congress. Why? Because if something gets solved, it can't be used as a wedge issue for the next election. Or worse, the "other side' might get the credit for solving something. No one in our government wants solutions and they aren't working towards any.
Until the 80% of Americans who are reasonable people wanting real solutions get up and get involved, things will continue to deteriorate. With voter turnout of 40% or less, we're letting the extremists make the decisions and we're getting exactly the government we deserve.
Always try to do things in chronological order; it's less confusing that way.