But even without a $15 minimum wage, other Democratic metro areas often have red-tape regulations and other taxes that overburden businesses. Moreover, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson also admitted “it’s middle American and the South that presents an opportunity.” Wait a second, isn’t that Trump country? Aren’t those Republican states? So Starbucks is quietly admitting that it can’t run profitable stores in Democratic-controlled states, so now it’s building stores in Republican states, all while continuing to preach SJW values. You cannot make this up.