"As Rock-Solid as the Presidential Jaw of Abraham Lincoln"

Thesis: Although this copper coin may be seen as "unnecessary" and "outdated", the penny remains an important, popular memoir of American values and history and therefore should not be abolished based on the sole grievances of some individuals such as representative Jim Kolbe about its size and usage.

Source B gives examples of specific American leaders (i.e. Paul Revere and Abraham Lincoln) who are tied to the production of the penny. These specific examples create a bond between the penny and the United States' history. In addition, this source draws on a statistic from the "National Association of Convenience Stores" that shows that "handling pennies [only] adds 2 to 2.5 seconds to each cash transaction". This concludes that not only does the penny serve as a stronghold for American history, but it also does not prove to be as "unnecessary" and "pesky" as it was previously described by Jim Kolbe.

Source D utilizes a common man's letter to American representatives regarding the impracticality of abolishing the penny. Through this letter, he explains that the penny is "popular with the public" and "important to our pricing system". Both the public and the writer of this letter, most likely feel that the penny remains an American heirloom that is engraved into our society's every day life and because of this should not be removed.

Source E is a poll that includes statistics on who favors abolishing the favor and who opposes abolishing the penny. Each category, including the lower income categories, had more people opposing the abolition of the penny than people who favored the abolition of the penny.  Even though the lower income individuals might be told that the penny is useless to them and will be more difficult to use financially, they still believe in the penny because it is so much a part of the American culture. Perhaps these statistics also embody the historical American notion of patriotism as both the lower class and the upper class agree on the fact that the penny should stay as it is a great part of the American lifestyle.

A Nation and It's Curency: A Long standing Relationship

Thesis: The most effective measure to take regarding the increasingly economically ineffective penny is not to completely abolish it, but to implement legislature that would limit its use and circulation, because of the simple fact that something must be done and this nation is not quite ready to give it up.

Death to Pennies

Thesis: Although many Americans seem entrenched in the fool hearted wish to keep pennies in circulation, the coin's uselessness in and furthermore, damage on, the American economy should be evidence enough to expose the crux of this debate; certain politicians' inability to accept logical change, and the American government's failure to entertain any progressive, necessary reform. 

Waste of Individual’s Time/“Practically Useless” 

 Make point that penny doesn't serve its one and only purpose; to function efficiently as currency. 

--“The point of currency is to facilitate transactions…For me, it’s the waste of time I object to.” Source B (Kahn)

 --“It’s practically useless in everyday life.” Source A (Lewis)

--“That’s because you can’t buy anything with a penny anymore.” Source C (Safire)

Actually, Worse than Useless; Drain on Economy

Doesn't stimulate the economy through circulation; takes up valuable time of govt. workers ("opportunity cost"); continuous loss of individuals' wealth contributes to overall loss in national economy 

--“Two thirds (of pennies) immediately drop out of circulation” Source C (Safire)

--Pennies have to be dealt with “by government workers who could be more usefully employed tracking counterfeiters” Source C (Safire)

--“They cost more in employee-hours” Source C (Safire)

--“each person is loosing $60 per year, at a cost to the nation of over $15 billion per year…” Source B (Kahn)

Directly Addressing Pro-Penny Arguments

--“The EU also sought to avoid the systematic rounding of prices” Source D (Weller) 

Why wouldn't you want to round up prices? It would be more efficient and less confusing, and it costs a cent rather than a continuous drain on the economy (aka pennies). 

--“The fact is the penny remains popular with the public and important to our pricing system.” Source D (Weller)

If the best argument for a economic policy is that it's popular/it's vaguely "important", surely its purpose needs evaluation. 

--“The penny is perhaps the most visible and tangible reminder of Lincoln’s significance in American history.” Source F (Press Release)

The argument that a piece of currency's primary purpose is to serve as a "tangible reminder" of our history is economically insane and shows a lack of dedication to the study of history...and is just absurd.   

Nuisance or Necessity: The Penny

The debate over the penny’s place in American currency circulation is essentially futile because the penny’s historical significance resonates positively with the majority of American society and the arguments against it are based in personal convenience rather than absolute necessity.

Source E – The majority of Americans, on all income levels, agree that the penny should stay in circulation.  The highest present of opposition comes from the income level of $75k and above at 32%, still not even coming near the 53% against its abolition in that income bracket.

Source F – “the penny is perhaps the visible and tangible reminder of Lincoln’s significance in American history”.  “For the first time, a US coin depicted a real historical figure”.  The coin is not only important to American history and the preservation of one of its most honored figures, but an innovation of its time.  It became a model for all American currency, which now preserve American history through the faces of those who shaped it.  The penny is more than just a coin; it is a microcosm of America and her history.

Source B – “the point of currency is to facilitate transactions” which the penny does just fantastically.  President Gore said, “for me, it’s the waste of time I object to”, referring to the fishing around needed to find the pennies needed for a purchase.  Well that is simply a personal statement by the President, who, in fact, makes a lot of money and probably finds no need for silly one-cent coins.  The majority of Americans, as previously examined, do not mind the penny or the fishing around or the extra time it takes to find them because they value its worth and significance.