A penny saved is a waste of funds

May 14, 2008

So, some U.S. officials want to find a cheaper way to make pennies ("Officials seek solution to high cost of penny," May 7). I can tell them how to save money: Stop making them altogether.

One hundred and fifty years ago, the U.S. government retired the half-penny. The reason: It was too small in value to be useful.

If that reasoning were followed today - and it should be - the penny, as well as the nickel, would be long gone.

The penny should be retired because it is nearly useless.

There is almost nothing that you can buy for a dime, much less a penny.

There are very few things that a merchant can sell one piece at a time for a dime if he wishes to remain solvent.

As for the public, after six months, it will have forgotten about pennies.

Robert E. Wolfe

Phoenix

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