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[quote=Anonymous][quote=jsteele][quote=Anonymous]
But why should the government be involved in protecting smaller, more specialized stores?  If they are wiped out by the one-stop-shopping megastore, then clearly the market isn't there to support them.  And why should the employees of smaller, more specialized stores not similarly be guaranteed a living wage?

Again, if a living wage is admirable, laws should apply to *ALL* businesses.

If the goal is to protect small businesses, than don't hide behind the guise of a living wage bill.[/quote]

I challenged a previous poster -- maybe even you -- about the government's role in zoning. The poster agreed that the government should have such a role. Similarly, city residents seem to feel strongly that small businesses should be supported. Why do I say that? Because every single politician I have ever heard has touted his/her support of small business. If this wasn't popular, they wouldn't take the position. If you want to live in a city of nothing but big boxes, I suggest you move to Rockville Pike.

Moreover, a previous poster who opposed the LRAA suggested forcing Walmart and other big boxes to pay a living wage was unfair to small businesses because their employees would either leave or demand higher wages. So, either LRAA is supportive of small business or unfair to small business. It can't be both.

Tomorrow is the hearing on the bill. With Muriel Bowser's pending announcement that she will run for Mayor, it will be very interesting to see what she does. She is a co-sponsor of the bill. Yet, one of her main fundraisers is a lobbyist for Walmart. Ward 4 is targeted to get two Walmarts, something she strongly supports. It will probably be difficult for her to find a middle ground.

[/quote]

It likely was me who you challenged, or at least I was among those you challenged.

But you haven't answered with a *principled* argument in favor of the bill.  Which is fine.  If you are a pragmatist or a firm believer in majority rule, your arguments stand up.  Me?  I'm not.  Just because it is what people want... or, rather, what people *say* they want but which they're practices often indicate otherwise... to me doesn't make it right.  If people *really* believed in small businesses, they would gladly pony up the extra money to support them.  But they don't.  So, to me, that is a bunch of touchy-feely rhetoric that doesn't amount to a hill of beans when discussing policy.

I don't care what it's impact is on small business.

If you are going to advocate for something called a "Living Wage Bill" than I presume you believe in a legally mandated living wage.  If you believe in a legally mandated living wage, why would you not support this for ALL employees in the district?  Why doesn't EVERYONE, regardless of whether they work for a big box or a tiny business, deserve this?

And I did live on the Rockville Pike a few years back... wasn't bad at all.[/quote]

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