In "Amazon wants a lot of new laws a- a New York Times column by Shira Ovide dated June 3, 2021, she starts off that column by observing that Amazon has been suggesting several big changes to US. laws recently: 1. Afecleral minimum wage of $15 an hour 2. Increasing the federal tax rate for corporations 3. Federal legalization of marijuana 4. Rules for the ethical use of facial recognition technology, including Amazon's own Rekognition. Ms. Ovide admits that pressure from corporations can't hurt to nudge a Congress that is often gridlocked or slow to pass laws. Since labor organizations have been unsuccessfully pressing for a $15 minimum wage for years, it is possible, she argues, that Amazon's advocacy might be even more effective at rallying public support and changing the law. But Ms. Ovide cou nterargues that, while companies deserve credit for taking on big issues, what matters is that they follow through to the end. And she agrees with Vox reporter Emily Stewart's statement that \"[v]ague gestures from corporations and executives are a way to smooth over real political and social issues, and to deect deserved scrutiny.\" Specically, she thinks that what Amazon says is a principled policy position may quite likely be little more than a strategic maneuver. She points to one episode from Amazon's past to support this position. For years, Ovide argues, Amazon loudly proclaimed support for a national sales tax in the United States knowing all the while that such a tax was most likely a non-starter in Congress. She points out that Amazon used that position to help itself in its ght against various state laws seeking to collect sales taxes from Amazon on online purchases. Obviously, the national sales tax never happened. Ms. Ovide then says that, about ten years ago, Amazon began to reach compromises with states to apply sales taxes. By then, she asserts, the company had beneted from years of price advantages over conventional retailers. Ms. Ovide admits that Amazon's lobbying disclosures do indicate minimum wage issues are among the topics that the company has pressed with members of Congress. She also admits that Amazon has published advertisements and opinion pieces about increasing the minimum wage. But she calls for American taxpayers to pose to Amazon and other tech companies who are speaking up for policy changes the following questions: How is the company pushing for this law? What specic policy suggestions does it have? How much money will the company spend on lobbying for it? Will the company commit to status reports on its policy advocacy and the results? Why, and give me a real answer about your motivations? She asks, "Why not be frank that an increase in the minimum wage might be good for many American workers and for Amazon's business?" The company may need to pay more to attract enough high-quality workers and keep them happy, and its competitors may not be able to afford higher wages