96 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 20 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
Life Arts    H4'ed 1/27/10

Do You Know Who's in Your Wallet?

By       (Page 1 of 2 pages)   No comments

Why is Alexander Hamilton on a $10 bill, while all Thomas Jefferson gets is a lousy $2 bill? Nobody ever sees $2 bills (at least I don't), but I see $10 bills all the time.What's up with that?

Sure, Jefferson gets a nickel too, but a nickel is five lousy cents. Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence for Christ's sake. Was that chopped liver? A nickel and a bill that nobody ever sees? It's a travesty!

Besides, Hamilton wasn't even a President. Yes, he was the first Treasury Secretary (big deal), but he wasn't even born in the United States.The rest of his resume includes having an affair with a married woman and losing a duel to Aaron Burr. So he gets the $10 bill for that?

What about Lincoln? He gets a$5 bill, which he deserves. But a penny? It's an insult! Pennies piss people off and end up in drawers. Panhandlers won't even take them. Congress should probably get rid of them, but when was the last time Congress did something useful? Besides, without pennies, how would greedy retailers keep thinking we're too stupid to know that $5.99 is 6 bucks?

And why is Ulysses S. Grant on the $50 bill? Sure, he won the Civil War and he was the 18th president, but he was also a drunk, a bore and a ruthless butcher.

Then there's Benjamin Franklin, who somehow got his mug on the $100 bill. Give me a break. He held no elective office. He didn't write any great documents. He just made a kite with a key on the end of it. So what? Using that logic, how come there's no bill with Alexander Graham Bell's face on it? Not too many people fly kites anymore, but everybody uses a cell phone.

Here's where it really gets ridiculous. The large denomination bills aren't in circulation anymore, but some Treasury Dept. dunderhead made the incomprehensible decision to put William McKinley on a $500 bill, Grover Cleveland on a $1000 bill, and Salmon P. Chase on a $10,000 bill.

Salmon P. Chase? Chase was Lincoln's Treasury Secretary. He was so obnoxious Lincoln put him on the Supreme Court to get him out of his hair. What's with that? And William McKinley? Grover Cleveland? McKinley's claim to fame was getting shot. Cleveland was the onlypresident to serve two nonconsecutive terms and that gets him a $1000 bill. It's unconscionable.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).

Rate It | View Ratings

John Blumenthal Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

John Blumenthal has been a professional comedy writer for 25 years. A former associate editor and columnist at Playboy Magazine (following a short stint at Esquire), he's written 8 books and 2 produced movies. His films include "Short Time," (major (more...)
 
Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Stark Naked at the Airport

Will Prince Charles Ever Be King?

My Exclusive Interview With J.D. Salinger

I'm in Love with Michele Bachmann

Why Scrooge Was Right About Christmas

Why I Hate Camping: A Glossary

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend