My step-daughter recently returned from a trip to Iceland and Wales. Where, when she’d tried to tip, there had been no obvious nor accessible way to do that. No screen appeared when she’d used her credit card; no prompt offered instant choices of how much her gratitude equaled. 10%? 20%. An ethical soul, Jess was not required to soul-search as to the quality of whatever transaction she’d just participated in—nor the quantity of Bad she might potentially feel if she chose a measly amount to tip, or, truly guilt-producing, to hand over nothing.
Instead: Those who work in service jobs in Iceland and Wales are paid well. The public is not needed to compensate for their employers’ exploitation.”We’re doing this wrong,” Jess noted.
What if, instead of our individual acts of largesse, we lived in a generous society? What if we were collectively generous? What if, as you paid for your latte or smoothie, you were gifted with a brief moment of pride, joy, happiness, that you were a member of a community that treated everyone with dignity? No exceptions.