I spend a lot of time on Youtube. Not just because I like watching hilarious viral videos, but also because there is an entire vlogging Youtube community (video- blogging). One of my favorite Youtube channels, Vlogbrothers, contain videos that are made back and forth between two brothers: Hank and John Green. As I re-watched some of their videos this morning, I came across one of John's videos that explains the worthlessness of the U.S penny and nickel.
According to John, it costs the U.S mint 1.6 cents to make a penny and 6.1 cents to make a nickel. That means the U.S Mint lost $22 million on penny and nickel production in 2009! (CLICK for source)
(Watch full video below or snipped version here)
Reason: We like them! The penny exists because of tradition.
We've always had pennies, we grew up with them, and even though there is no valid argument in favor of the penny, we won't get rid of them because it would be weird to not have any wedged in between the couch cushions.
What other things are Americans scared to get rid? Whether it be physical objects or sentimental traditions. Our fight against change could be hurting us the most. For example, if Congress refuses to pass anything, how will anything get better? Americans not only need to start cleaning out their closets, but also considering that change is sometimes good.
BRIDGET! I just want to start off this comment by saying this may be one of the best blog post topics I have ever encountered. I would also like to say that I completely agree with the argument our dear vlogging friend John makes: pennies are sentimental, worthless discs of suck. As the world around us evolves and changes, we must adapt and change with it to keep up. Whether it's the measly coins like pennies or nickels, or the gas guzzling cars that were all the rage back in the day, they were once successful in a chapter in our history. Alas, as times change, we need to step back and look rationally at the world around us and shed things that no longer make logical sense. Why pay more money for gas and put more toxic fumes into the atmosphere with less evolved cars when you can drive something much more reasonable (both economically and environmentally)? It's time for America to cut themselves free from the emotional ties that are holding our country back.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Bridget. I really enjoyed this guys enthusiasm as he pleaded his case. I found this particularly interesting because of all the times I receive pennies in change and cant find any use for them. I completely agree with your point on how Americans value tradition and become sentimentally tied to these objects/ideas. I think another good example of this is the Newspaper. I am not trying to put it down because i am aware that it is still very popular, but given the boom in technology it is becoming a thing of the past. Not only is it less convenient, but it does quite a toll on the environment killing a vast number of trees in the process.
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