Commentary
California politicians seem to have no qualms about dictating the operations of private enterprises in various aspects. Whether it’s setting worker wages, determining product prices, regulating fees, or even specifying the composition of a board of directors based on race and gender.
Now, a new state Senate bill proposes to mandate that retailers have an employee monitoring self-service checkout terminals in an attempt to combat retail theft. However, this requirement essentially defeats the purpose of these terminals.
State senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas introduced the measure, stating, “We know that what makes our community safe is not more jail time and penalties.”
The bill also aims to “protect good jobs” and address the rise in retail theft in California, which has been fueled by the state’s own policies. The increase in theft has coincided with progressive criminal justice reforms, including Proposition 47, which reduced many crimes to misdemeanors.
The policies implemented by officials like George Soros-backed district attorneys have contributed to a surge in retail theft and a reduction in the state’s prison population. This has led to more criminals on the streets with little fear of consequences.
Instead of recognizing the failures of these policies, lawmakers have proposed new legislation to address crime prevention and rehabilitation for offenders, including measures to prevent employees from intervening in retail theft situations.
Other retailers in the state are facing pressure to increase wages to compete with fast food retailers, who are offering minimum wages of $16 per hour. In order to reduce worker costs, some retailers have turned to self-service terminals. However, this bill is designed to prevent that trend. The bill is supported by the state’s labor unions, which are not typically focused on retail theft concerns.
Once again, the left is being criticized for creating a problem through bad policy and then seeking to solve it through government intervention. This cycle often leads to more government intervention, creating a vicious cycle.
Please note that the views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times.
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