Here’s a Tip: Vote for Livable Wages

Re “A Little Out of Hand” (Aug. 13): Tipping is not getting out of hand. The so-called “tyranny of tipping” only exists because so many of the service jobs proliferating in this country don’t pay a livable wage.

In this election year it is worth noting that it is those more economically well-off who are constantly moaning about how much to tip or about having to tip at all. Blue-collar workers are always better tippers, despite not having as much disposable income. A blue-collar worker is more likely to know someone who works at a tipped job or has done so himself.

Over the last 15 years, the top 20% of income-earners have grown dramatically wealthier, while the bottom 80% have done no better or declined in their living standards. People should stop whining about having to tip service workers and either happily shell out the money to get good service or support political policies that would pay service workers a livable wage so our society wouldn’t have such a need for tipping.

JEFF SOFTLEY

Los Angeles