Is tipping my waiter A requirement

There are many debates in this world that may never be resolved, such is which is better; Coke or Pepsi, McDonald's or Burger King, My Dad or your Dad? Well keeping along these lines of thought, I have issues with tipping people who bring my food to me at the restaurants that I frequent. From the jump let me make this clear that these are my views based on my experiences so deal with it.
Anyway, I have heard many a person say something like " but she only gets $2.85 cent an hour and she is depending on your tip". That really urks me, because no one ever thinks about the boss getting cheap labor at my expense. I mean would we stand for that at our kids school? If teachers got $2.85 an hour and are dependant on our tips, how many teachers would stay and how long would this be allowed....Probably never because its STUPID!!!! Case in point, Just tonite I took my daughters out to Denny's for dinner. The food was decent but we needed extra items like napkins, silverware was missing and a few refills. No problem, I can live without the necessities of a meal, but what got me was when I walked up to pay for my meal, the cashier asked me a question she must have asked a million times judging from her mono-tone voice, "Was everything o.k. with your meal tonight?" I thought- should I be honest, after all this is just Denny's??? I just said it was great. I handed her my unexpected coupon and she peered at it for several moments as if to try make sure it was current. She calls for back up and then turns to me and say would you like to leave a tip on your card? I almost cussed, as I said "I left cash on the table".
Really, if anyone should be tipped I would think it should be he cook. I mean how hard is it to make that long walk from the window to my table with my food before it gets colder? But then again her boss does not pay her that much money and I am the one who encouraged her to choose that waitress profession. Seriously, I have a professional barbers license and I often get tipped for my work, but I don't expect it and I always give good customer service regardless. I treat each customer like he is the only patron I had all day. Is that asking to much for someone coming to me out of all the places in the world that could have been chosen.

I just wish people who choose to be in the field of customer service would just step their game up to at least pretending to care about the customer. I refuse to give my views of why I think restaurants have the mandatory gratuity on large parties.....the service really sucks then.....hummmmmmm

I am Ward and I ain't tipping poor service no more......