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heraldnet.com


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Send letters to the editor by e-mail to letters@heraldnet.com, by fax to 425-339-3458 or mail to The Herald - Letters, P.O. Box 930, Everett, WA 98206.

 
WEEK IN REVIEW
Wednesday
Student hit in crosswalk to return
81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored...
USO singer's voice still charms them in Edmonds
Tuesday


Fire destroys Emory's restaurant
Peggy Pritchard Olson always put Edmonds first
Camano Island burglaries spike: Is Colton back?
Monday


Tree clearing, mud slide angers Everett neighbor
Later start for school day unlikely in Marysville
Hopes for Snohomish excursion train may hinge o...
Sunday


Glacier Peak freshman overcomes jitters to win ...
Gay marriage issue can wait, say Referendum 71 ...
Cities across south Snohomish County see tax re...
Saturday


Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Mountlake Terrace thrilled by high school's fir...
Friday


Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
Thursday


Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
 

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Published: Monday, September 29, 2008

May this celebration be the U.S. penny's last

"If it's a penny for your thoughts and you put in your two cents worth, then someone, somewhere is making a penny."

-- Comedian Steven Wright



Just in time to coincide with our economic crisis, the U.S. Mint last week unveiled four new designs for the penny, the first changes to the 1-cent coin in 50 years.

Congress might as well vote to uphold our eternal commitment to the U.S. Standard Measurement system while we're at it. (You know, "feet," "inches" etc.) Since we are so determined to help our children compete in a "global economy" against math whizzes from other countries. But we digress.

We're modern. We bank online. Yet we're getting four new pennies.

The new coins are part of the government's commemoration next year of the 200th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The pennies will have the famous Lincoln profile on one side, but the Lincoln Memorial will be replaced on the other side by new images -- a log cabin will be the first -- with a new one being introduced every three months.

If Lincoln were here, he would of course have something funny and wise to say about the whole thing. (He did say, "If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?") He might note, as many reasonable people have, that it costs more than a cent to create a penny. (About 1.2 cents these days.) There were 8.23 billion pennies minted in 2006, according to the U.S. Mint. The agency spent about $44 million to produce pennies in 2006, compared to $30 million in 2005.

Never mind the cost, pennies are a pain. Carrying them, counting them, letting them pile up until they amount to something. Apparently we keep cranking them out and circulating them because some people like to collect them. It's turning into a very expensive hobby for the country.

Some argue that we should keep making pennies because of their "historic relevance." Well, if we stop making them, they'll be even more historic. They'll also be worth more for the collectors. Because the fact is, pennies aren't relevant. They are archaic. They slow transactions down. They require their own little dish at cash registers because you always need one when you don't have one, or need to dump some if you do, and they are too small, monetarily, to put in the tip jar.

Lincoln, on the other hand, is always relevant. It's not like the penny is our main tribute to him. That would be embarrassing. There's the $5 bill. Oh, and something a bit more fitting -- that awesome and inspiring Lincoln Memorial.

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1. Emory’s owner fears fire was arson
2. Monroe honking case makes it to state Supreme Court
3. Vatican ponders the souls in space
4. 81 veterans' names, 81 meaningful lives honored in Snohomish
5. Hope dims that Olympics will boost region
6. Student hit in crosswalk to return
7. Smokey Point to celebrate end of roadwork
8. Death on Edmonds waterfront ruled a suicide
9. Help for young moms may continue
10. Semifinal slate sealed on ‘Dancing With Stars’
Enterprise Newspaper Snohomish County Business Journal
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Hawks proud of historic season
Olson always put Edmonds first
Honoring student veterans
‘Wheedle' author comes to Lynnwood bookshop
Mavs build early lead en route to easy win
Prep football games of the week (state playoffs)
Tears of laughter, tears of grief
Death on Edmonds beach likely a suicide
The Enterprise Online Newspaper


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