The 100K waiter? In what world?

So, BP saved the Gulf, and Obama swept up Wall Street this week. And all I'm concerned with is server wages? Not really. I love the Gulf of Mexico; I grew up vacationing on Galveston Island. But I am still trying to grasp why I should care about Big Finance when the last thing I invested in was an $80 pair of shoes (that I saved up for over a year to buy). Lemme tell ya, the only thing poorer than a service industry worker is an out of work one. So it struck me as important to lend proof that old, rich, white America is out of touch with its struggling youth.

When Minnesota GOP* hopeful Tom Emmer said in a press meeting last week that "some (servers are) earning over $100,000 a year," you can bet your crappy tips that the servers came out in droves, and they weren't smiling. I served and bar tended in San Antonio and Austin for about 6 years, 3 of those years as a middle manager, and probably just cracked that figure.

Now, I tried to study up and become a "wages and taxation" buff by midnite tonight, but nothing doing. Instead, I will learn through continued reading of the subject at hand. And, as are so popularly played upon in forums, posting questions to you, the readers, and welcoming back any and all responses via comments. I am directly affected (or at least I will be once I regain employment) by our state's rate of pay for tip-based positions; Are you?

*Learn Politics: What Does "GOP" Stand For?

Some Questions For Discussion:

ARE YOU FOR RAISING ALLOWANCES FOR PEOPLE WHOSE INCOME IS HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, AND NOT STEADILY GUARANTEED?

HOW DO WE KEEP SERVERS HEALTHY, HAPPY, AND MEDICATED IF THEY DON'T RECEIVE BENEFITS AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT?

WILL THE NEW HEALTH CARE BILL AND MANDATORY REGULATIONS BURDEN OR SAVE PART TIME SERVERS?

IS IT UNFAIR TO RESTAURANT OWNERS/MANAGERS THAT THEY ARE MAKING MORE HOURLY, AND THEREFOR PAYING OUT MORE TAXES THAN SERVERS?

FINALLY, TOM EMMER SEEMS OUT OF TOUCH, SURE, BUT DIDN'T HE JUST KIND OF MISSPEAK? I MEAN, YES, HIS HEAD IS A BIT UP HIS REPUBLICAN ASS, BUT AREN'T WE ALL A LITTLE OUT OF TOUCH ON POLICIES THAT DON'T EFFECT US?

I actually thought it was respectable that he retracted his faulty statement, flipped his opinion, and went to work at a restaurant for a day when he was confronted by angry servers. Sure, you could look at it as a mere attempt to save his ass, but it's nice to know that he listened to the people. And that a couple of hard-working, forgotten servers made a difference. I know I would never readily part with 2010 pennies if it wasn't going to feed me or my dogs.