Republican Jim Kolbe has twice (2002,2006) attempted to introduce legislation that would have ended the production of pennies and eventually left the 5 cent nickel as the lowest value in circulation. Both attempts were ignored.
Reasons for Elimination
1. Producation is at a loss. It currently costs about 1.7 cents to mint a penny.
2. Ultility is limited. Very few people use pennies in their daily transactions. Vending machines and toll booths do not accept them.
3. It would have no effect on prices. Consumers may actually gain about 1/40 a cent per transaction. (robert whaples, wake forest)
Preservation
1. It takes forever for our nation to do anything. (my opinion)
2. History. We've always used the penny. And people like Abraham Lincoln. His face is soothing like a cough drop.
3. The Zinc Lobby. Yes, there is a zinc lobby. They actively lobby in favor of the penny to preserve company profits on behalf of Jarden Zinc Products.
National Elimination Precedents Isreal Australia Finland Hungary Sweden Brazil UK
Still uses one cent denomination or smaller:US Russia Japan Namibia and a list that reads like the coalition of the willing.
This dynamic brings a whole new meaning to the term "Cold War."
The United States is not the only nation with an issue regarding dependency upon foreign imported fossil fuels.
Essentially Russia can blackmail Eastern Europe. They can do this with price demands. Theoretically they can also suffer a "supply shortage" or "transportation issues" if western European foreign policy takes a turn they don't like.
Russia Ukraine Gas Dispute of 2006
This conflict started in March 2005 over the natural gas and transit prices.
On 1 January 2006 Russia cut gas supplies to the Ukraine. 80% of Russian Gas supplied to Eastern Europe flows through the Ukraine. SO RUSSIA CUT THE GAS SUPPLIES ESSENTIALLY TO MANY EU NATIONS IN THE DEAD OF WINTER.
Supply reductions were known to be occurring. The Ukraine may have been siphoning off gas, or Russia was under supplying and falsely accusing Ukraine of siphoning. Either way the gas had to start flowing, and the Russians were in full control of the situation.
* Locking in Demand - Moscow is attempting to use long-term contracts with European countries to lock in demand. By dealing separately with countries rather than as a group, Moscow can discriminate countries on prices. * Locking in Supply - Moscow attempts to consolidate its control of strategic energy infrastructure throughout Europe and Eurasia, including supply, sale, and distribution of natural gas as well as as pipelines, refineries, electric grids, and ports. *External Consolidation - Moscow is consolidating control of supply outside Russia, particularly by signing long-term exploration and supply agreements with Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. * Internal Consolidation - Moscow is consolidating Russia's oil and gas sector in the hands of state-controlled entities. Major international entities are pushed out of Russia. * A Gas OPEC - Russia is "stealthily and steadily" developing a "gas OPEC" cartel to control the output and price of gas. The cartel would include major producers, including Argentina, Bolivia, Venezuela, Iran, and Qatar.[9]
The Communist Soviet Union has passed but a new power, but Russia has rebuilt extremely strong relationships forming a kind of new unofficial capitalist federation consisting of former members of the Soviet Union.
Effective third party candidacies for president. According to Wikipedia there have been only 2 significant ones in the past 100 years. Sadly I have to disagree as we will see.
Bull Moose Party
Actually the Progressive Party was the real moniker of this 1912 attempt at the presidency. But since America love's nicknames, the Bull Moose Party became the popular name.
Essentially, Teddy Roosevelt was ticked at William Howard Taft. That's really about it.
"Theodore Roosevelt was president of the United States until 1909. When he left office, William Howard Taft was chosen to run and won the presidency for the Republican Party. In 1912, Roosevelt was unhappy with Taft's time in office and put his name forward to become the Republican Party's nominee again. The Party chose to stick with Taft. This angered Roosevelt who walked out of the convention and then formed his own party." (americanhistory.about.com)
See, I'm not lying.
Then again this is a guy who just 3 years prior to becoming the president of our nation literally charged a MACHINE GUN NEST in the Spanish American War. Walking out of a convention was not a tough decision.
A hilarious anecdote: "Roosevelt personally led the attack but paused after charging a few feet with only a handful of men following. He turned around and inquired why no one had followed."
Platforms Included:
"women's suffrage, social welfare assistance for women and children, farm relief, revisions in banking, health insurance in industries, and worker's compensation. The party also wanted an easier method to amend the constitution."(americanhistory.about.com)
This guys resume reads like a Progressive and a Maverick at the same time. Somewhere Glenn Beck is very confused.
Reform Party The reform party was the result of the 1992 Independent Candidacy of Billionaire Ross Perot.
18.9% of the vote in 1992. 9% in 1996. In the three elections since no 3rd party candidate has broken 5%.
His candidacy was described by the New York Times as "starkly pro-business like a republican", yet "arguing for a level of regulation normally identified with liberal democrats."
But I don't think most people got past these soundholes growing off the side of his noggin.
And finally the dark side of recent American electoral history.
Personally I find the white shading of these states ironically appropriate.
Those four states voted for a man who only 5 years previous had said: "segregation now, segregation tomorrow and segregation forever" - George Wallace
And apparently less than 20 years before I was born a significant amount of the U.S. population still agreed with him.
Zihuatenhjo. Mexican city on the Pacific coast. Mexicans say the Pacific has no memory. That's where I will be spending some time in the future. No throngs of students. No tourists.
Pitching again. Or at least I am emptying the contents of my athletic bag by tossing baseballs into a fence. 26 tosses a round, and about 5 rounds.
I even bought a Jair Jurrjen's necklace. Sometimes it's all about looking the part.
I've been turning in some serious Waffle House time as well. At least 4 to 5 nights this spring break. During these study sessions my Blackwater book has been highlighted relentlessly. I know I'm interested in what I am reading, or maybe infuriated, when virtually every word in the book has been turned neon yellow.
I have also learned that urine can smell like coffee.
Following are two broad categories of Reality Television, and I recognize that the motives of watching any of these shows are not purely negative or worth criticism. This post is written in the spirit of the assignment.
Disclaimer out of the way, let's go.
Train Wreck Television. That's how I refer to television shows like Cops, The Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown Downward Spiral Hour, and game shows which feature people performing demeaning stunts or eating disgusting food for money or purely just to be on television. It's acceptable to make a fool of yourself as long as you profit or a lot of people learn your name. Afterward, bide your time and accept your guest slot on Rock of Love or the Bob and Tom show. With some luck and a well timed publicity stunt you might achieve enough fame to or infamy to be on one of those C-list celebrity house shows.
Idol worship. Dancing with the Stars, Newlyweds Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson, The Hills, Real Housewives of(insert city here) etc. Although I think a more appropriate title would be "Really Successful Gold-diggers of...". Denise Richards??? Really?
This is the art of combining voyeurism and consumerism. Watching celebrities. Living through celebs. The benefit of feeling like you are involved in the daily personal life of someone who's existence seems more interesting or desirable. Even if your not that interested it's like the super bowl in that the shows are almost like a social exercise and no one wants to be left out.
Only one show combines contemporary America's desire to both live through celebrities and mock the silly people who are beneath us. This is the one show which provides us with a buffet of flavors in a single dish. The Creme de la Creme.
American Idol
As such, I submit that American Idol displays the current symphony of flavors and preferences that currently encapsulates American culture.
The opening rounds are train wreck television. The three judges visit different cities looking for "talent". We get to laugh at the clueless folks who can't sing and just need to realize how pathetic they are. We get to gawk at the people who wander in with a bizarre gimmick.
It's a modern day Barnum and Bailey Circus. And according to the neilsen ratings, suckers are still being born every minute. About 30 million or so.
The proof is in the pudding. And the pudding is the ratings.
It is in this segment of the show that I am reminded of the Bob Dylan song Ballad of A Thin Man:
You hand in your ticket And you go watch the geek Who immediately walks up to you When he hears you speak And says, “How does it feel To be such a freak?” And you say, “Impossible” As he hands you a bone
Is the sucker the one on television dressed like a banana singing purple rain or the person who enjoys watching others do this, and then buys the products he or she is hawked during the commercial break?
But I Digress.
Once the auditions are over singers selected the idol worship portion begins.
It's in the word American Idol. Idol
Here is where the other American hunger is satiated. A "idol" is selected, and on top of that, we get to do the selecting. A facet of the "democratization of celebrity." We get to crown someone as being worth our admiration and affection. And in a way, if the contestant you voted for won, you won too. Albeit your own life won't change yet the winner receives instant celebrity.
SIDENOTES/BONUS 1. The capitalist aspect our culture is also on display from the onset of the season. There are winners and losers. Losers go home and winners get a record deal.
2. We like to build up public figures and tear them down. Don't worry, now that this person is famous any embarrassing details of their now public private life are free for scrutiny.
