Unless or until we have universal basic income, the gun to everyone's head is the prospect of starvation or homelessness. I'm really starting to doubt your story that you were a server anywhere. Certainly it defies belief that you supported a family on that.

If you're not making enough to live on, probably you have more than one job. If you have more than one job, your time on the multiple jobs, plus sleep, plus commuting, probably doesn't leave you much time for upskilling, assuming you had the energy. Then, if you are not making enough to live on, how are you going to pay for tuition, a computer, etc.?

I just completely cannot believe you worked at Waffle House and never understood anything at all about the lives of your supposed coworkers.

And the baristas _are_ doing something that doesn't require them to do something that they frankly shouldn't have to do and probably don't have the resources to do anyway to make a living wage--they're banding together and _asking_ for it. Also you say, if none of those baristas chooses to work for the wage you think they should be paid, you can stay home and make your own damn coffee.