This is one of your very best essays. It’s almost like you’re one of the small businesses in your story. My career has given me the opportunity to travel all throughout America. I saw these mandated minimum wages create havoc in so many areas. The Pacific Northwest and Northeastern states appeared to be the most harmed by these policies. In 2023 I was on my first trip to Washington State. Crossing in to Spokane from Coeur D’Alene Lane Idaho was shocking. Fuel $1 plus more per gallon, busiest liquor store in Idaho just across the boarder, grocery stores etc. Then as I got a bit further West to the airport side of Spokane I arrived at my friends home/business to park and stay for a week to train bird dogs and prepare for a field competition the upcoming weekend. Sunday we got up at 4 am and he took me to a place they owned about 30 miles northwest. Those tragic fires had just been thru this entire area a month earlier. It was heartbreaking to see all the devastation. We stopped at a local Mexican restaurant to have a great late lunch and he introduced me to the owner and we enjoyed small talk. Anyway, on Monday we did the same except we decided to stop for lunch at a local gathering place in Cheney. We enjoyed a good time and visit. During this sit down meal, I said, why are all these “ fast food joints” empty? He said, the governors new minimum wage mandate is killing them. Huh? Yep, $25 hour minimum starting pay. For a first time, entry level job? Yep. A burger or chicken sandwich meal is $20 or more in some cases. Now everyone just comes to the nicer sit down places because it’s actually less expensive and better quality. As I read your essay I think about all those people that most likely have almost all of their wealth tied up in these franchises and real estate they sit on. How unfair is all I can think of. I feel fortunate to have escaped Michigan 32 years ago ( when it was actually a very well run state ) and to have built a business in the very worker and business friendly state of Georgia. The government has lost its ability to function properly without constantly trying to dictate market forces. How many families will be crushed financially because of massive government overreach?
Yes, I have lived some of this - though I have managed to stay ahead of the curve rather than getting "done unto" as others have. I have also witnessed it many times.
We've known many who, across the years and decades, saved up enough to buy some small bits of real estate. The trope of the widow owning a 3 unit building, where she lives in one and rents 2, is one I have seen first hand multiple times. Imagine what happens to such persons when the government starts heaping mandates, restrictions, and rent caps on them.
Sanctions, price controls, mandates, and government schools rarely work well. I’d actually say they might appear to initially “make things fair” that only lasts for a short time until the market inevitably changes course to produce success. It’s a bad policy implemented by ignorant and irresponsible officials.
"Fairness" by government coercion typically boils down to what best serve the politician's #1 goal - re-election.
Small business and small property owners are a double-minority. They are few in number, and they don't have the deep pockets with which to buy influence.
This is one of your very best essays. It’s almost like you’re one of the small businesses in your story. My career has given me the opportunity to travel all throughout America. I saw these mandated minimum wages create havoc in so many areas. The Pacific Northwest and Northeastern states appeared to be the most harmed by these policies. In 2023 I was on my first trip to Washington State. Crossing in to Spokane from Coeur D’Alene Lane Idaho was shocking. Fuel $1 plus more per gallon, busiest liquor store in Idaho just across the boarder, grocery stores etc. Then as I got a bit further West to the airport side of Spokane I arrived at my friends home/business to park and stay for a week to train bird dogs and prepare for a field competition the upcoming weekend. Sunday we got up at 4 am and he took me to a place they owned about 30 miles northwest. Those tragic fires had just been thru this entire area a month earlier. It was heartbreaking to see all the devastation. We stopped at a local Mexican restaurant to have a great late lunch and he introduced me to the owner and we enjoyed small talk. Anyway, on Monday we did the same except we decided to stop for lunch at a local gathering place in Cheney. We enjoyed a good time and visit. During this sit down meal, I said, why are all these “ fast food joints” empty? He said, the governors new minimum wage mandate is killing them. Huh? Yep, $25 hour minimum starting pay. For a first time, entry level job? Yep. A burger or chicken sandwich meal is $20 or more in some cases. Now everyone just comes to the nicer sit down places because it’s actually less expensive and better quality. As I read your essay I think about all those people that most likely have almost all of their wealth tied up in these franchises and real estate they sit on. How unfair is all I can think of. I feel fortunate to have escaped Michigan 32 years ago ( when it was actually a very well run state ) and to have built a business in the very worker and business friendly state of Georgia. The government has lost its ability to function properly without constantly trying to dictate market forces. How many families will be crushed financially because of massive government overreach?
Thank you.
Yes, I have lived some of this - though I have managed to stay ahead of the curve rather than getting "done unto" as others have. I have also witnessed it many times.
We've known many who, across the years and decades, saved up enough to buy some small bits of real estate. The trope of the widow owning a 3 unit building, where she lives in one and rents 2, is one I have seen first hand multiple times. Imagine what happens to such persons when the government starts heaping mandates, restrictions, and rent caps on them.
Sanctions, price controls, mandates, and government schools rarely work well. I’d actually say they might appear to initially “make things fair” that only lasts for a short time until the market inevitably changes course to produce success. It’s a bad policy implemented by ignorant and irresponsible officials.
"Fairness" by government coercion typically boils down to what best serve the politician's #1 goal - re-election.
Small business and small property owners are a double-minority. They are few in number, and they don't have the deep pockets with which to buy influence.
Look at NYC where rent control has made things even worse.
Yep. And the Dems' candidate wants to freeze rents entirely.
There is no limit to government greed.