Is It Time For the US To Ditch the Dollar Bill? 943
coondoggie writes "It seems well past time that the U.S. ditch its $1 bill — considering such a move could save the country somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 billion. But there is much resistance, or perhaps a lack of real consideration of the issue from most people. Watchdogs at the Government Accountability Office this week testified before a Congressional hearing on the topic, and said dollar coins could save $4.4 billion over 30 years (PDF), or an average of about $146 million per year."
I'll be the first to say... (Score:5, Funny)
Dollar coins at the strip club sounds both dangerous and hilarious.
Won't someone think of the strippers! (Score:2, Funny)
I'm thinking about them right now .....
Re:I'll be the first to say... (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Not yet... (Score:5, Funny)
In Australia we ditched $1 and $2 notes[...]
In the USA, we still like to pretend our currency has value.
Re:I'll be the first to say... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:I'll be the first to say... (Score:5, Funny)
So now you can answer that question your Momma always asked... "Go wash you hands,,, do you know where that thing's been!!!?
Re:Not yet... (Score:5, Funny)
I like fifths ... Jack, Jim, Jose ...
Re:Not yet... (Score:5, Funny)
Hmmm... George Washington, tits. George Washington, tits. It could work.
Re:Not yet... (Score:5, Funny)
You might wanna find out what actually happened in the US before laying on too much sanctimony.
We've tried to replace the dollar with coins three times so far, and it's failed.
The problem is the size and shape of the old dollar coins. They're very close to quarters in size and weight. In our first attempt, the dollar coins were also silver like the quarters. So it was hard to quickly identify which coins are dollars and which are quarters.
But while that mistake was going on, all sorts of equipment was built to accept dollar coins that were that size and shape. So when it came time for serious attempt #2 (Sacagawea dollar) the coin still had to be the same size and shape or every vending machine would have to be replaced. So they tried changing the color to gold in order to satisfy humans and machines.
Well, it was the only gold coin most people in the US have seen, so it was odd. And it still felt like a quarter in your pocket. So still didn't win much acceptance. Plus a lot of people responded to the name of the coin with "Sack a Jew what?"
We're trying again with the Presidential Dollar Coins. They're still close to quarters to satisfy the vending machines, and gold to try and satisfy the humans. And they've got "normal" names.
Realistically, the changeover will happen in one of three ways:
Re:End fiat currency! End THE FEDERAL RESERVE!!! (Score:4, Funny)
Aside from the price!
Re:Not yet... (Score:5, Funny)
I'd use $0.04, $0.08, $0.32, $0.64 and $1.00 coins. But I'd also have 128 cents to the dollar, for I like round numbers.
Re:I'll be the first to say... (Score:4, Funny)
How to get a free dental extraction in Canada:
1) Grab a couple "Loonies" ($1 coins) and some big bills.
2) Head to the strip club
3) Get shitfaced. Trust me, you'll need the anesthesia.
4) Use your lighter to heat the $1 coin until you can't handle it
5) Throw hot coin at the stripper
6) Repeat
7) Wait patiently for the "surgeon" to take you to his alley, er, office.
8) ???
9) No teeth!