See alot a Trump should do this and that.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

WHOA!
The 'no tax on tips' measure is NOT a MINOR tax break!

From what I can gather, tips represent between 20 and 30 percent of the total income for most tipped workers.

My wife has been a server for the better part of 20 years, tips are more than 50% of total income everywhere she's worked. Claiming tips moves her up a tax bracket, so not having to claim/not paying the taxes on that portion would be YUGE. Not make or break for us in particular, but when we were younger we would have bought a lot more booze and magic cards, lol

[neurosis]

I don't know about you, but I would never consider 20-30% of my income to be minor!
For some people this is a VERY big deal!

That's true, but I know several people who work in restaurants and bars. They don't make enough money to support their family.  I'd have to ask how much in tips they pull in but I'm guessing they are already in a pretty low tax bracket.

I know that not all waiting jobs are low level like that but I would assume that the majority of them are.

[SuperHoneyBadger]

I know that not all waiting jobs are low level like that but I would assume that the majority of them are.

Hourly pay is always at the bottom end, even fine dining. Minimum wage or less, there was an "alcoholic beverage server" wage in Canada that was ~$2 less than minimum, from the understanding that you will get tips. I think that was axed in the past few years when the 'living wage' people got really vocal. I remember reading in New York City some servers make $3/hour, and $500+ per night in tips, not sure about that one. Sounds like Cocktail, sign me up.

[Jim at Gentex]

That's true, but I know several people who work in restaurants and bars. They don't make enough money to support their family.  I'd have to ask how much in tips they pull in but I'm guessing they are already in a pretty low tax bracket.

I know that not all waiting jobs are low level like that but I would assume that the majority of them are.

And that's the point.
Those are the 'little people' you mentioned, asking whether Trump is actually helping them.
The answer is clearly yes, but you don't want to accept it, as evidenced by your follow-up 'What about tariffs?' question, which can be relative but is a separate issue.

Trump's critics are constantly yammering on about how everything he does is only for his own benefit, so that begs the question, 'How does no-tax-on-tips benefit Trump personally?'
The answer is that it doesn't.

Can't you just admit that maybe, just maybe, his motive here is altruistic rather than self-serving? 

[Del.]

And that's the point.
Those are the 'little people' you mentioned, asking whether Trump is actually helping them.
The answer is clearly yes, but you don't want to accept it, as evidenced by your follow-up 'What about tariffs?' question, which can be relative but is a separate issue.

Trump's critics are constantly yammering on about how everything he does is only for his own benefit, so that begs the question, 'How does no-tax-on-tips benefit Trump personally?'
The answer is that it doesn't.

Can't you just admit that maybe, just maybe, his motive here is altruistic rather than self-serving? 

Good luck. We're all pulling for you! 😝

[Jeff]

We can't find qualified people.

That seems to be every shop's problem. We've been looking for 3-4 years for someone with decent experience.
We've hired a handful of greenies, but they quickly find out that they have to work and then quit.

[neurosis]

That seems to be every shop's problem. We've been looking for 3-4 years for someone with decent experience.
We've hired a handful of greenies, but they quickly find out that they have to work and then quit.

Part of our problem is that we're a small shop so the pay and benefits aren't what you would get at a bigger shop. It's also in the armpit of Seattle so it's not easy to get to. The minimum wage in Seattle is $21 an hour so if a guy walks in to an entry level position in the shop, if and when they find out they have to get dirty or do some actual work, they'll just leave and go flip burgers or make Amazon deliveries.

It's difficult to keep someone around long enough to train and getting anyone with some talent these days seems almost impossible. All the good ones are taken. 

[Del.]

Part of our problem is that we're a small shop so the pay and benefits aren't what you would get at a bigger shop. It's also in the armpit of Seattle so it's not easy to get to. The minimum wage in Seattle is $21 an hour so if a guy walks in to an entry level position in the shop, if and when they find out they have to get dirty or do some actual work, they'll just leave and go flip burgers or make Amazon deliveries.

It's difficult to keep someone around long enough to train and getting anyone with some talent these days seems almost impossible. All the good ones are taken. 

$21 for any job?

[neurosis]

$21 for any job?

I believe so.  $20.70 per hour

[Jeff]

$21 for any job?

At least.
We just hired a general labor/saw guy/driver and I think he's getting $23-ish.
Greener than a bullfrog's ass doesn't know anything about machining or reading calipers, etc...

[Del.]

I believe so.  $20.70 per hour

What's considered good pay for seasoned toolmakers?

[mowens]

Where I work the pay range is ~ $20-$41.

[neurosis]

What's considered good pay for seasoned toolmakers?

I haven't seen one of those on the market in a really long time. I think it would depend on where they work and TBH, I would just be guessing.

We have a toolmaker who comes in to do contract work occasionally and I think he makes around $50 an hour.

[mkd]

Why would anyone with life ahead of them want to get into manufacturing in US where all govt and economic and import oligarchs are pitted against them?
https://x.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/1876714589657629151?t=PMmNQkVKlnGSKaBceznHCA&s=19

[Incogneeto]

I haven't seen one of those on the market in a really long time. I think it would depend on where they work and TBH, I would just be guessing.

We have a toolmaker who comes in to do contract work occasionally and I think he makes around $50 an hour.

Thats about right , I was making $48 Class "A". A Journeyman Class "B" was $28