A Democrat has awoken! Peter Beinart, liberal writer for the New Republic and author of the book, "The Good Fight: Why Liberals -- and Only Liberals -- Can Win the War on Terror and Make America Great Again," has, at least temporarily joined the Dark Side and has written a scathing article about how the Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot politically.

Now, I'm not the first one to have said this and certainly not the only one. All day on the talk-radio circuit and the blogosphere, Beinarts' article is making huge waves. Of course, you won't hear a word about it from the Daily Kos, or any other left-headed place. But for those who haven't seen it yet, you can read it here.

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Congratulations to the Chicago City Council for showing the most short-sightedness in business. The council, against even the wishes of fellow Democratic-Mayor Richard Daley, passed what is called the "Big-Box" Minimum Wage. This bill specifically targets stores like Wal-Mart and forces them to pay a higher minimum wage than smaller stores.

In other words, it will keep Wal-Mart from competing equally in an open-market economy.

The reason the council wanted this law in the name of the "little guy". However, in city after city, results have shown that "big-box" retailers have enabled the local economies to grow by not only supplying much-needed jobs, but by attracting people from nearby towns to come and shop there.

What upsets me is that small-business owners should not have the right to kill off competition. In most places, it has actually caused retailers to adapt and thrive.

What I don't understand about the Chicago City Council is why they feel it's Wal-Mart's duty to foot the bill. If the city wants to really help the little guy, why don't they abolish any tax liability for minimum wage workers? Why should Wal-Mart, or even local businesses, force businesses to pay more to their employees? If the federal, state or local governments want to help the poor minimum wage worker, don't put the burden on Wal-Mart, or even on Mom and Pop.

Chicago is losing big time for this bill. It will not force Wal-Mart, or Target, or any other "big-box" employer to pay their employees more. It will make them move their businesses elsewhere. And that is definitely not good for their economy.