[EvRev]

When we look at the issues that are behind the thin margins that restaurants operate on, i.e. rent and cost of goods, then it seems that the labor is the only variable that is under the operators control. So instead of framing the argument of whether we should have to directly pay those wages/tips the discussion needs to shift.

Why are commercial rents so high? Because vacancies are preferred over "market rate" rents. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27939860

Not saying this is the case, but when a business shuts down the property it operated in stays in place. The rent will continue to rise to meet the financial demands of the property owner. So the next fool comes in and tries to run a business that is doomed. The young workers rents are subsidized by parents. Unless a restaurant owner is working in the trenches then they will NEVER be able to run the business effectively.

The banks get richer either way, but at a certain point there will not be any restaurants left as the societal contracts erode.