Perhaps the BEST B1G Forum anywhere, here at College Football Fan Site, CFB51!!!

I didn't say we're hurting. Just not as well off as we once were. My wife is on a pension and SS. I'm essentially fixed income.

Certainly not looking for sympathy. Not my style. Just pointing out that our disposable income has been GREATLY reduced.

I smoke Swishers and I don't drink whiskey anymore. Just clear stuff - Gin and Vodka.

Well, the nature of inflation is --- none of us are as well off as we once were.  The tipping rage is out of control, however, especially when the same products cost double what they used to, and now I'm expected to kick in a few more bucks to fund someone else's help -- nah, pass.

And I wasn't trying to be adversarial really, just saying we are all pretty good still relative to most.  I'm as blessed as anyone, and I try not to lose site of that, despite my naturally pessimistic disposition.  

The other thing is who gets the tip? Is it split among all employees in the store? Does the store take a cut? 

Typical low end food joint scenario:  (my area anyway)

Go up to counter -- noticed by by youngish buffoon behind counter -- youngish buffoon may, or may not, acknowledge verbally -- youngish buffoon walks off -- youngish buffoon returns a minute or so later -- YB may, or may not, verbalize "May I take your order." --- I give my order -- YB will not repeat my order back -- YB instructs that I owe whatever -- I slide in my card, a receipt prints, YB hands me receipt and a cup, walks off (No thank you, it'll be up in a minute, etc.) -- I make my own drink, I get my own napkins, condiments, sit down -- I watch intently as YB will not announce that my order is ready, but he will eventually deposit a tray with my food on the counter, and walk off -- I retrieve my food from the counter.  There is a 20% chance my order is wrong.

I am supposed to tip Youngish Buffoon.  LOL

just one of the reasons I don't eat at those places

I sit down and have someone come to my table and take my order

Well sure, much more preferable, but not germane to the tipping everybody for nothing craze.

That's one good thing about Europe. Servers get paid a living wage.

We should copy that model and not worry about trying to tax tips, or not taxing tips.

Over there, a couple of Euro for exemplary service is APPRECIATED, not demanded.

they also get free health care and free higher education in Europe. it probably helps that those European countries have their defense subsidized by the US.

we spend well over a trillion dollars a year on "defense" when you take into account the maintaining/updating of the nuclear weapons arsenal (which for some reason isn't included in DoD budget but in the DoE) and interest payments on debt from all these stupid pointless criminal endless f*cking illegal wars we have to constantly fight or fund for other shitbag insignificant countries that mean literally nothing to the national security of the US nor are they of vital strategic interest to the US- for some weird reason. not that weird actually, it's just a giant money laundering scheme.

they also get free health care and free higher education in Europe. it probably helps that those European countries have their defense subsidized by the US.

Taking a larger slice of the American Pie than migrants - how dare they - let's move over there

like California?