Down with the penny

Yesterday I was greeted at the mailbox with what appeared to be a check addressed to me. I was somewhat anxious as I have eagerly awaited the arrival of the $1200 government stimulus check, which will be used in its entirety to pay for a boarding pass to Japan in December. I hurriedly opened the check and as my eyes perused the check I realized the amount to be paid was .31. Yes that is right, a check for thirty one cents. My first reaction was to read the amount paid for postage of this check, which was 34 cents. This reminds me of a time where my Mom received a check from Shopko for a total of 17 cents. I realize the company is lawfully required to send what they owe their customers and are very gracious in doing so; but really is that 31 cents really going to be the difference in us getting by this month?

Which brings me to my next point... Isnt the penny just absolutely useless? In decades past the penny played an important part of the U.S. economy because it had value. According to my grandparents there was a day when you could go see a movie, have popcorn, a drink, and some red vines for a grand total of 27 cents. Inflation has caused the penny to become obsolete. How often does an individual drop a penny on the ground and not even bother to look down to see where it went, let alone bending over to pick it up? People don't even collect pennies anymore with the purpose of trading them in for a dollar; they throw them away! I propose that the penny be abolished and sums are either rounded up or down to the nearest nickel, it will simplify things. In many countries the equivalent of the penny does not exist. On the political docket for this year should be the issue of what to do with the penny. I believe this would be the deciding factor on for whom shall I cast my vote in the election. I'm pissed that Romney did not win the GOP nomination. The guy is incredible, anything he touches turns to gold. I can assure you my vote will not go to Mccain.

"I'm going to be honest: I know a lot less about economics than I do about military and foreign policy issues. I still need to be educated."

"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I've should. Ive got Greenspan's book"

"Its not social issues I care about"--John Mccain

Is this the guy you want taking office and pulling us out of this recession?

-written by Brady