Bye Bye Hamilton

A topic for another venue.


Friday, 12 June 2015 at 7:07 PM

I am extremely disappointed in this decision. Leave it our government to take a perfectly good idea and make a mess of it. Yes, I'm soapboxing right now.

I agree Hamilton has earned his place on our currency (sorry JBuck, lol). Revolutionary War officer, Frist Secretary of the Treasury, and the man largely responsible, IMHO, for making the U.S.A. an economically viable nation. Without his work, this nation could have easily shattered into pieces. To explain would take a few pages, but this is just my point of view.

Now Andrew Jackson, look, the guy fascinates me and I enjoy reading about that period in American History. But let's face it, his human rights record, by current standards, isn't exactly the greatest. Yes, it may be unfair to judge a man outside his period of history, and yes, by forcing Native Americans off their lands he opened millions of new acres for settlement. But, the Trail of Tears? Not exacly a high point in our nation's saga, by any measure. At the same time, we haven't offered to give the land back, have we?

I like the idea of putting a female historical figure on our currency. I even voted in the online ballot for Harriet Tubman (she put her life on the line for other people's freedom). But now they're putting her on the $10 Bill and getting rid of Hamilton? Give me a break. Its also kind of an insult. The $10 bill is probably the least used between the $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills. So thats the one they give to a female?

I have heard the redesign argument and I don't buy it. This is just playing politics, as usual.

I guess if they announce that Hamilton is moving to the $20 I'll stop griping a bit, but why not just leave Hamilton where he is and give the female inductee (whoever she is) the $20 note?

Ok, I'm done soapboxing. Thanks folks.

This is what has piqued my interest the most in this thread.

You make a good argument, Afab67.


I am glad my enigmatic post is actually doing some good.

Jbuck? Is Aaron Burr a distant relative of yours?

jdmern - Agree completely, he was a dashing figure. One of the great all-time arguments is whether he could have been elected president.

If they wanted to change a note, I would have voted Franklin off the island first.

I wish they would put liberty back on our currency ..... but of course they won't do that.

I'm just concerned that they are going to make a politically based decision on who to portray.

Does the treasury secretary make the decision or does Congress have to rubberstamp the pick?

I'm not opposed to the idea, but I don't like that the decision is "We're putting a woman on the bill but we don't know who yet." They aren't even trying to hide the fact that the change is just to appease the Tumblr "social justice warriors."

I would applaud them if they were to announce "Harriett Tubman is going to be on the $10. Go to xxxxx.gov to vote for the design you like best." The fact that they are *just* doing it to get any woman on the bill cheapens the whole deal and makes the victory seem hollow, in my opinion.