Im guessing you have never worked in a service industry or have not heard that the cost of living does increase over time. I have been in this industry for seven years and currently as of january our base pay is a little over 3 dollars. Once I have tipped out 4 percent of my sales I make an average of 8 dollars an hour on a good week. Try paying for college, children, and a mortgage on that income. If you don't tip I don't get paid so please start having a little compassion for those hard, struggling workers.