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California’s $20/hour minimum wage for fast food workers went into effect this month, and the early results are negative. Companies affected by the law are laying off workers, putting off needed capital improvements and raising prices. Some are closing their doors altogether or opening restaurants only in other states. Keep in mind that these companies already have dealt with post-COVID-lockdown business losses, homelessness, crime, retail theft and loss of customers as people move out of the state’s most populous cities. When I posted a critical Washington Examiner article on my Facebook page, a friend remarked that he understood the objections, but something needed to be done to address the problem of affordable housing for the working poor in California. The sentiment “We have to do something” drives disastrous decisions. Sentiment isn’t sense. Feelings aren’t facts. Politicians exploit voters when emotions run high. They get elected on facile promises to “solve” deeply entrenched problems. And then, when they enact policies that worsen those problems (and create others), they protest that their intentions were good. That’s not good enough.