I get it that leftists don't like economic decisions that are voluntary

Just so you know, I’m just as amazed at how many left leaning people have bought into failed and flawed free-market ideology. And, to be clear, I’m not rushing to label you.

In writing I try to confront ideologies that are simply wrong. I’m also not saying that acknowledging good service is the issue. I am most definitely saying that business models that under-pay people with the notion that tipping is preferred or even beneficial is open to exploitation.

This Time Magazine article relates how post-civil war many menial jobs were only made available to blacks with the condition they wouldn’t have to pay a salary. They’d have to bust ass to earn a tip. That’s one origin of tipping. Today, the restaurant industry is rampant with sexual harassment, and having to be nice or accept come-ons to worse impacts women to a great degree.

While women make up roughly half of restaurant employees overall, they are about two-thirds of tipped employees, who report sexual harassment at higher rates than their nontipped colleagues.

I don’t think people realize how prevalent it is. And anyway, my original article was about a living wage, not tipping. I understand time constraints, and I try not to judge people for enjoying a burger. But I do judge business practices that rely on underpaying rank and file employees, who are making plenty of profit for shareholders and CEOs. You probably won’t like this article of mine either, which focuses on wage stagnation.

Anyway, thanks for chatting.