Abolish The Penny Synthesis Essay

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America has always drawn strength and patriotism from its traditions. Symbols and landmarks, no matter how big or small, remind Americans of our history and give us hope for the future. Hence, these traditions must be kept alive in order to symbolize the importance of our country and remind people of its potential. Americans throughout the country can see pennies and remember them as a symbol of our country’s roots and why it has thrived for so long. Although at times pennies may seem insignificant and trivial as they often are lost or lying around, ultimately the penny plays a fundamental role in everyday life, would inadvertently impact the lower class if abolished, and is a tribute to our history, thus it should not be eliminated. While …show more content…

If the penny is abolished, prices will increase as businesses will not want to lose money. Some supporters of abolishing the penny “advocate [rounding] prices to the nearest nickel.” While this may not seem like a large increase, the money consumers lose adds up over time (Source B). This would have the biggest impact on lower-class individuals and the homeless population, where 5 cents can make a substantial difference in what they can and cannot buy. Many of those who want to abolish the penny argue that it is futile and have even found that “handling pennies adds 2. seconds to each cash transaction” which is money that workers lose. While this is a valid argument, the negative impacts of abolishing the penny still outweigh the benefits as prices will rise for the entire population rather than just the workers. Not only would abolishing the penny harm consumers and upset Americans, but it would also remove much of the historical significance that the penny carries. The penny, like all other forms of currency, represents America and what it stands for. As indicated by Source F, where President Bush signed Lincoln’s redesign into law, the penny still carries a lot of

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