Diner Stiffs Server, Leaves Note Blaming Taxes and Obama

Here's a possibly fake and, if not, totally messed up card that a diner supposedly left for his or her server instead of a tip. According to Reddit user nickshambo, this card was left for a friend of his and adds, "I'd be livid." But before anyone goes blaming this diner for being a cheapskate, please consider that the US government is truly to blame. As the card explains, "As a direct result of Proposition 30 and President Obama's insistence that I pay "MY FAIR SHARE IN TAXES," I find that I must cut back on discretionary spending and gratuities. I wish it didn't have to be this way for both of us."

So what is Proposition 30? Well, according to Investopedia, it was a measure passed in California back in November that raises taxes on wealthier individuals as well as raises the sales tax "by a quarter of a cent ($0.025) for a four-year period" in an effort to fund schools. So maybe that sales tax really hit hard on this particular restaurant's check, or perhaps the diner in question is a wealthy American who is now paying more in taxes.

Either way, as several Redditors pointed out, things of course really do not have to be this way — perhaps cutting back on discretionary spending should mean going out to eat less rather than stiffing your servers when you do go out? And as androida_dreams points out, "If you can't afford to tip, you can't afford to have professional plaque cards printed out explaining why you can't tip."

· Friend got this as a tip. I'd be livid. [Reddit via Tales of a Web Addict]
· All Receipts Coverage on Eater [-E-]