vincent p. norris wrote:

> Tipping is symbolic of a superior-inferior (master-servant)
> relationship. Note that you would not tip your neurosurgeon, or your
> architect, or your Senator, or the conductor of the New York
> Philharmonicafter a concert. If you tried, those folks would be
> insulted, because you've implied they are socially your inferior.

And yet, if you polled waitrons and barkeeps, I'd bet
you a pint of BEER (ob. beer) that they would
overwhelmingly prefer the current system of
sub-minimum wage + percentage-of-tab tips to the
only alternative: minimum wage + nominal tips.