Money

George Will wrote a column over 20 years ago that we should redo who we honor on money.  I think this is a fantastic idea.

Look- who's on the coins and bills of today?  Politicians.  Why?  We're the United States!  We mock politicians!  Besides, I hate any idea that puts politicians on a pedestal above citizens.  Yes, we've had some great leaders.  But there are far greater things in the United States than who get elected to what office.

So I'm offering my suggestion for the bills- who should be honored on each of the denominations:


$1.00 bill (Current:  George Washington).  George Washington.  Just because I want to reduce the number of politicians on our currency doesn't mean we should get rid of them altogether.  In addition to being the Father of our Country and the First President, Washington was also a great general.

$2.00 bill (Current:  Thomas Jefferson).  Norman Borlaug.  Not many people use the $2.00 bill, and not many people have heard of Norman Borlaug.  Borlaug's research into agriculture may have saved a billion lives.  He should be celebrated.

$5.00 bill (Current:  Abraham Lincoln)   Abraham Lincoln.  Still keeping the President who kept the country together.  Washington and Lincoln are the only elected officials that I'm keeping (but I'm keeping one more person)

$10.00 bill (Current:  Alexander Hamilton)  Jackie Robinson.  Americans are obsessed about sports.  I think I could argue that half the bills should have towering sports figures, from Babe Ruth to Jim Thorpe to Michael Jordan.  But the $10.00 bill is popular, and Robinson represents the best in the United States- both as an athlete and as a person.

$20.00 bill (Current:  Andrew Jackson)  Mark Twain.   Father of American literature.  "Huckleberry Finn" and "Tom Sawyer" remain classics. 

$50.00 bill (Current:  U.S. Grant)  Neil Armstrong.   There are a lot of choices to honor the scientists, inventors, and explorers- Thomas Edison, the Wright Brothers, Alexander Graham Bell.  But the Moon Landing is one of our greatest achievements, and should be celebrated.

$100.00 bill (Current:  Benjamin Franklin)  Benjamin Franklin.  I'm keeping Franklin, because he was so much more than a politician.  Inventor, writer, diplomat. 

They don't make any bills over $100.00 anymore.  But I'd like to bring back two bills, especially because prices keep rising and we might need them soon.


$500.00 bill (Formerly:  William McKinely)  Lucille Ball.  Americans love their entertainers.  And I can come up with several nominees (Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Bob Hope, etc.).  Ms. Ball a star on stage, radio, and television- she can hold her own with anyone else on this platform. 


$1000.00 bill (Formerly:  Grover Cleveland)  I would like to nominate Andrew Carnegie for the $1000.00 bill, because I believe we should honor both the industrialists and the philanthropists.  And having a steel magnate on the highest currency seems appropriate.

 Thoughts and suggestions for other nominees welcomed.