Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Latest Breaking News
In reply to the discussion: Treasury Department set to phase out the penny [View all]
stopdiggin
(14,244 posts)146. this is an opinion piece (not sourced to the Fed, the CBO, nor any other recognized 'authority' )
that is now close to 7 years old. And in fact is 'authored' by a noted proponent and advocate on the issue.
"Mark Weller is executive director of Americans for Common Cents."
Americans for Common Cents is an organization based in Washington, D.C. that lobbies in favor of keeping the United States penny in circulation.
Article also includes such erroneous or outdated information such as:
"In our economy, 60 percent of transactions under $10 are still conducted in cash." (Not in 2025)
And continued assertions that a great majority of Americans support keeping the coin. (when in fact this is no longer true)
https://today.yougov.com/economy/articles/51865-more-americans-want-to-drop-the-penny-than-to-save-it
as a source, this is really reaching.
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
Recommendations
0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):
159 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Noooooo, I love pennies and used to have several of those folding blue collector books of them (lost in a move)...
wcmagumba
May 2025
#1
What the fuck are you talking about? People do accept their change in pennies.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#23
"And if you tried to round down it would be considered theft or shoplifting."
stopdiggin
May 2025
#112
You make my point. You pay what the store tells you, or you get no groceries.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#132
No. Which is why I oppose getting rid of pennies when there is no law in place requiring rounding up AND down.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#141
this is an opinion piece (not sourced to the Fed, the CBO, nor any other recognized 'authority' )
stopdiggin
May 2025
#146
The research by Penn State economist Ray Lombra, and more recently by Georgetown fellow Robert Shapiro are not opinion.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#147
Wrong. The rounding in Canada is mandated by law and consumers and merchants love it. It's neutral.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#35
Eliminating healthcare has nothing to do with eliminating the penalty. The poor would lose no pennies on bread
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#89
The law that would be required to eliminate the penny would have to be proposed, passed and enacted. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#96
The Bill regarding elimination of the penny was introduced in the House in February of this year
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#110
Here is the bill for the proposed law. Yes, it includes rounding in both directions, as is expected and sensible.
thesquanderer
May 2025
#116
That proposal would still make people pay 5 cents for anything that costs 1-4 cents. But better than no law.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#119
There will probaby be nothing in a store priced to allow people to round down if such a law passed.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#148
Of course many prices round up. But generally things are just as likely to round down, so it works out even.
thesquanderer
May 2025
#150
Rounding does not "work out even" in actual practice; the total is most often rounded up.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#151
re: Dollar Tree's $1.25 w/ sales tax $1.37, rounding to $1.40? No, $1.37 rounds to $1.35.
thesquanderer
May 2025
#152
It rounds to $1.40 with no rounding law in place, which is the US situation now.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#153
It's a Trump sycophant majority who is cutting Medicaid. You think they'll get right on that rounding legislation?
SunSeeker
May 2025
#157
No. It does not work that way. Nonsense. The law in Canada mandates rounding, which balances out
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#34
You are the one spreading nonsense. We are not Canada. We have no such law. nt
SunSeeker
May 2025
#90
I never claimed the US had such a law. We are discussing the proposal to eliminate the penny.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#94
Healthcare has nothing to do with eliminating the penny. The poor won't lose 4 cents on bread
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#100
Eliminating the penny is much simpler than ANY of those. Obviously. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#125
Yes, as you say. It balances out, it's automatic in cash register, which is told cash or card
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#36
absolutely not. the sales tax figure remains - 11 cents (which is of course bundled into your purchase price)
stopdiggin
May 2025
#20
No. Bill added up, tax computed, final amount rounded plus/minus to 5 cents not ten, and only if cash.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#37
When I was in Germany 40 years ago there wasn't a lot of US coin change around for the PX.
Jacson6
May 2025
#74
Not a problem, no complication. Half the time the customer's bill is rounded down, the other half rounded up
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#33
When Nixon told the nation to stop hoarding pennies, my wife began hoarding them in earnest.
Bo Zarts
May 2025
#4
ONLY on cash purchases. and, even there, on any purchase greater than we'll say 2 or 3 dollars
stopdiggin
May 2025
#25
The lack of concern for the poor who do not and will not have the access to credit cards, debit cards,
hlthe2b
May 2025
#26
It's neutral. Half the time it rounds down; other half time rounds up. Canadians are happy with the move years ago. . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#30
There is still a cash economy that is hard for many to remember--for the poorest among us.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#39
It's on the bill. The poorest in Canada have no problem with it. It's neutral, by law and automatic in the register. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#40
This isn't Canada. And our "conservatives" are in no way comparable or even rational as your worst.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#41
US cash registers work the same as Canadian. Probably made and programmed in US. And DONT SMEAR ME
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#46
Cash registers ring up the prices the owner charges. THis is idiotic, Bernard. I thought you had compassion.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#48
Look, I hate what Trump's policies are doing to Canadian-American relationships, but then you post this?
hlthe2b
May 2025
#57
This thread is about eliminating the penny. Dragging irrelevant policies into the discussion is a distraction.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#68
"Negligible" to you and I who are so little affected-not so much for the "cash economy." I wish we still had Bobbolink
hlthe2b
May 2025
#38
How about you stop using Republicon naming of the Big Bum Bill, which this has NOTHING to do with.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#49
It is additive. Just like tariffs and every single policy in that bill that will decimate the poor.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#51
It is not additive. You can't prove that. You haven't even tried to prove that. It is neutral
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#60
Says the Canadian who despite all of DU bemoaning Trump's damage to US-Canadian relationships
hlthe2b
May 2025
#62
You are not worth my time. It was clearly highlighted in your previous posts. BYE.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#66
Should your personal attack be alerted? I'm not going to alert your post #66
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#69
I made no personal attack, quite the opposite in ignoring your attacks* and hoping a future will resolve
hlthe2b
May 2025
#71
Not NOW you are not. Just posting the same thing over and over and over--ignoring my points & issues.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#76
You are the one repeating. I made points that you have not refuted. You repeat points I have refuted.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#81
You mischaracterize me regarding the poor. When something is neutral to the poor it does NOT discount their plight
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#73
You were the first to mention tariff taxes in posts 38 and 48. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#83
Count me opposed. Since when is creating currency or coin supposed to be at virtually no cost?
hlthe2b
May 2025
#8
It's neutral, it's automatic, Canadians love it, it saves EVERYONE time and bother. You have no points to make. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#42
This isn't Canada. GO read the Big Beautiful bill and the harms that will come to that population and
hlthe2b
May 2025
#45
It is additive. As is a lack of compassion for the impacts (EFFECTS if you prefer) to the poor.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#53
Getting rid of the penny is not additive. It is neutral and makes life easier. There are no "additive" effects.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#63
Repeating your retort that tries so damned hard to reframe my point to your desired argument is so meaningless.
hlthe2b
May 2025
#65
You have not been understanding that eliminating the penny is neutral and people like it where it has been done. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#70
Even reframing the use of the word "understanding..." as I used in my responses
hlthe2b
May 2025
#78
Fine. You have not been understanding of me. You have not understood that I am using economics and mathematics.nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#84
Well then you should like Georgetown economist Robert Shapiro's study finding that eliminating the penny hurts the poor.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#149
Thx. The Joys of Being Wrong, the diligence of DUer "SunSeeker", and the Elimination of the Penny
Bernardo de La Paz
May 26
#158
No problem with nickels in Canada. Yes, Canadian Treasury is revenue neutral bc rounding evens out in long run. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#44
It is entirely neutral for the poor. It rounds out, it is automatic, it is no cost. Experience proves it. . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#50
I am referring to the proposal of eliminating the penny which would be enacted by a law.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#87
So you're just making shit up. There is no US law requiring split rounding. nt
SunSeeker
May 2025
#88
The OP is about a proposal. The proposal is not shit. It is practical. It would be enacted by law. . . .nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#91
The elimination of the penny would require a law rounding cash transactions. This is obvious.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#97
Tell that to Trump, who eliminated the penny via social media post, with no law in place. nt
SunSeeker
May 2025
#123
Got any more practical suggestions? He did not eliminate it. Be real. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#126
It's not my suggestion. Trump tweeted he was ending penny production and Treasury complied. All illegal of course.
SunSeeker
May 2025
#128
He can order the tide to recede if he likes. That doesn't make it real. A tweet is not an Executive Order.
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#131
When I was stationed in Germany the US stopped sending pennies to the base banks.
SeattleVet
May 2025
#43
The rounding from the elimination of pennies would be on final transaction, not on prices. . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#111
Irrelevant: "costs more to manufacture than the coin is worth." That would only matter if the coin was only used
FSogol
May 2025
#98
these are a few countries that have dropped their equivalent of teh penny
moonshinegnomie
May 2025
#106
Nope. Nobody gives or takes pennies, esp not underground. Most were redeemed at banks. . . .nt
Bernardo de La Paz
May 2025
#115
They say it costs four cents to make each penny. Why not just offer everyone two cents for every penny they turn in.
twodogsbarking
May 2025
#107
Massive cash contributions from copper-mining firms to trump in 10, 9, 8, 7... (nt)
Paladin
May 2025
#138