Disclaimer: I realize this is a controversial opinion and I am not in the US, so perhaps I don't understand it fully.
But here it goes.
You are paid too little. SOMEONE has to pay you more. But that someone isn't the customer. The customer should not be responsible for paying the wage.
I'm sure the employers LOVE it how they always have a scapegoat for their shit wages. Maybe it's time to shift the focus to them?
And if you think “It's just how it it's hard to change the system.” Sure, it's hard, but not impossible.
$100 cost of food/service + $20 = $120 total
$120 cost of food/service = $120 total
It's the same thing! Except the second one is much simpler, actually consistent, with way less anger involved.
A: Let's go to place X.
B: Nah, they increased prices by 20%.
A: They haven't, they just removed tipping. It's the same price at the end.
B: Oh, okay, let's go.
It's not like people are completely stupid and can't understand a change like this.