121–130 of 428 posts
All I want is for all paper cash to be plastic so I can wash the covid off of it. I support getting rid of the penny, but I feel that plastic cash would make more of a difference. CGP Grey has a wonderful video on the penny, he is my favorite YouTuber. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y5UT04p5f7U
All I want is for all paper cash to be plastic so I can wash the covid off of it. I support getting rid of the penny, but I feel that plastic cash would make more of a difference. CGP Grey has a wonderful video on the penny, he is my favorite YouTuber. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y5UT04p5f7U
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So is that a bug or a feature of the US system? On one hand, beneficial change can be painstakingly slow. On the other, malevolent change can be stymied indefinitely Edit: clarify my statement was in reference to the US
The problem with checks and balances is that partisanship is paralyzing. If each side deems their causes good and the opponent evil that must be stopped, nothing happens. Some mechanism is required to build cooperation. Patriotism used to serve that role in the US but it’s not functioning since it too is becoming political.
I used to think so, but as I read more about the founding fathers I’m beginning to think they had all the same personality conflicts we have today. Maybe there’s a case that with today’s media our current reps are more accountable to their constituents, but (superficially at least) most would interpret that as a good thing
The continued existence of the penny is absolutely ludicrous. Here we have something that has almost zero economic value to everyone involved. It costs more to mint them than they're worth. It likely costs more to even transport or count them than they're worth. It is almost entirely just economic drag on every transaction that involves them. Yet somehow, we can't find the political will to _just_ _stop_ _making_ them. Momentum truly is the most powerful force in politics.
It's sad, because it doesn't have to be this way. I am in favor of socialized health care. I could even be convinced that some amount of UBI may be a good idea. I am in favor of a strong social safety net. But the fact that this country can't even figure out how to stop making a coin that is worthless tells me that it is probably asking a little too much to expect that the federal government can competently manage anything as complex as healthcare or the livelihoods of millions.
Yes. Canada stopped producing pennies in the fall of 2012. [0] The sky didn't fall. There was no great debate, no public opinion polls and politicians swearing heartily about the demise of our great nation. (Ok that's probably not true. For too many politicians that's all they do.) There was resistance when Canada dropped the $1 bill in favour of a Loonie (a $1 coin with the image of a loon on it). People bitched abo…
I feel like we missed an opportunity to also drop the nickel and round everything to 10 cent intervals and just forget about the extra level of precision entirely. I imagine I will see this in my lifetime.
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> Since Canada changed but left the taxes the same (14% in Ontario IIRC) there seems to be a lot of rounding-off in favour of companies instead of consumers. $0.01-$0.02 per transaction This assertion is wrong. If the item you buy is $1.00, then after your 14% tax it will be $1.14, which is rounded up to $1.15. If the item is $2.00, then after tax it is $2.28, which also rounds up to $2.30. But if the item is $3.00,…
>If the item is $4.00, then after tax it is $4.56, which rounds down to $4.55. Everybody who lived the transition to the Euro knows that this is not what will happen. Prices will be always rounded up.
Yes. Canada stopped producing pennies in the fall of 2012. [0] The sky didn't fall. There was no great debate, no public opinion polls and politicians swearing heartily about the demise of our great nation. (Ok that's probably not true. For too many politicians that's all they do.) There was resistance when Canada dropped the $1 bill in favour of a Loonie (a $1 coin with the image of a loon on it). People bitched abo…
In what sense would rounding of sales taxes be in the favor of companies? Surely it goes to the government, not the company.
The melt value of a copper penny (1982 or prior) is worth more than the face value. However, it's illegal to melt down legal tender currency. AND, fun fact, it's illegal to leave the US with more than $5 worth of pennies, so you can't drive to Canada with a bag of pennies and melt them there. So some people are now starting to hoard copper pennies, waiting for the day when pennies are no longer legal tender, and then…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the best approach is for the US to move more concerns to the state level. E.g., it would be great if states would start implementing their own universal healthcare for their residents. States commonly have more internally aligned political goals and therefore can move quicker. It also has the benefit of allowing different states to experiment with different solutions and all states can learn from the results.…
Trivial inter-state mobility is a big obstacle for states doing grand social programs individually. If a state provided universal healthcare for residents, it'd quickly be overwhelmed with "hard cases" from other states where coverage is a problem. Which would drive up costs, and taxes, and drive productive/healthy people out. See the current inter-state shipping of homeless people, especially those who suffer mental…