Tipping is still expected here in Washington where the minimum wage for tipped employees is the same.

It has already become your culture, like it or not. Whether you tip or not, employer has to make up the different if the tip doesn't add up to the minimum wage, so you're essentially subsidising the employer as of now. Fixing the minimum wage will not get rid of tipping culture either, and exploitative employer knows that, so they will continue to pay the bare minimum and expect the customer to foot the bill.

I wonder if everyone reaction will change if we change "Tipping" to "Subsidising", because that's what the current status quo are.

So yes, I will defend tipping until this is fixed

Can't defend the status quo and expect things to be fixed, they're mutually exclusive of each other. Human nature demands that.

Yeah, I've always thought of it that way too: abhor the underpaying bosses and the politicians who allow it and advocate for change, but until then keep tipping generously no matter the level of service.

If you get bad service, your server might be having a rough day and/or the place might be busy or otherwise make their job of serving you more difficult. That doesn't mean that you have a right to deny them rent and food money.