Uchikura & Co., LLC

When Did Businesses Become the Enemy of the Public? — A View from Seattle

 

There was a time when business success was widely seen as a public good. Companies created jobs, paid taxes, built infrastructure, and funded innovation. Today, in many political and media narratives, businesses are increasingly portrayed as adversaries rather than contributors. Whether that perception is fair or not, the shift is real—and it is influencing where companies choose to operate.

 

From where I live, in the Seattle/Bellevue area, this trend feels very close to home. Washington State has long promoted itself as business-friendly, anchored by the fact that our state constitution does not allow a traditional income tax. Yet in recent years, there have been repeated political pushes that many business owners view as moving in that direction. Even when framed differently (such as capital gains taxes), the signal to the market is uncertainty about the long-standing tax structure.

 

At the same time, Seattle has seen major corporate footprint reductions. Amazon, which helped build modern Seattle, has slowed expansion in the city and shifted significant growth elsewhere. The company has not fully “left” Seattle, but the direction is clear: when costs, regulatory pressure, and political friction rise, companies diversify geographically.

 

Supporters of current policies argue they protect workers and address inequality. Critics argue the cumulative burden—tax proposals, regulation, public safety concerns, and rising operating costs—is pushing employers to reconsider their presence.

 

Markets respond to incentives, not rhetoric.

 

Across the country, states such as Texas, Florida, and Tennessee continue to attract relocations and expansions. Meanwhile, some traditionally strong coastal business centers are seeing headquarters moves, hiring shifts, and reduced office investment.

 

This is not simply ideological—it is economic. Businesses make decisions based on predictability, cost structure, workforce stability, and long-term confidence. When uncertainty increases, capital becomes mobile.

 

The long-term risk for cities that lose employers is straightforward: fewer jobs, a shrinking tax base, and slower growth. Once a business ecosystem weakens, rebuilding it takes years—sometimes decades.

 

A healthy economy does not require choosing between being “pro-business” or “pro-worker.” Sustainable prosperity requires both. The real question for Seattle, Bellevue, and Washington State is whether current policies are maintaining that balance—or quietly encouraging the very employers that built the region to grow somewhere else.