One Charlotte-area congressman is pushing to put President Ronald Reagan on the $50 bill. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., of Cherryville, today announced he has introduced a bill that would do just that.
“President Reagan was a modern day statesman, whose presidency transformed our nation’s political and economic thinking,” McHenry said in a press release.
Reagan would replace Ulysses S. Grant, widely regarded by historians as one of our weaker presidents. In fact, Grant seems like the most likely target if you're going to replace someone on a bill. We'd have a hard time arguing to bounce George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln or Benjamin Franklin. Even Alexander Hamilton and Andrew Jackson are pretty strong. If not Grant, maybe Reagan could replace William McKinley on the $500 bill.
What do you think? Reagan on the $50 bill? Reagan on a more prominent bill, or less prominent one? Or would you keep Reagan off any currency?
-- Posted by The Observer's editorial board
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Ronald Reagan on the $50 bill?
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34 comments:
Works for me.
Rep. McHenry may want to rethink honoring President Reagan for his economic policy. Most of our present problems have their genesis in Reagan's voodoo economics. Beside, wasn't U. S. Grant a war hero who helped bring an end to our nation's greatest agony.
Not a chance in a trillion.
If they had a $1 million bill, perhaps it could bear Reagan's likeness...
for the massive national debt accumulated under Reagan...
for the beginning of tax cuts for the "haves and have-mores" as the preferred policy to rid the nation of that pesky middle class...
for the corruption in scandals like Iran-Contra...
But please, please, please...not on a denomination that regular people would have to look at frequently. There would be an epidemic of National Nausea.
Forgetting Reagan would be the best thing for the nation, except the toxic legacy he left makes him unforgettable.
And Patrick McHenry is, truly, an embarassment to North Carolina and the US House of Representatives.
Put Reagan on the $500 bill. He only cared about the richest folks in America, let him be on their money. He wouldn't want the rest of us soiling his portrait with our proletariat hands. While they are at it, they can remove Andrew Jackson, whose actions against the Native Americans were barely above the line of genocide. Why not feature a great American WOMAN patriot on any of our paper currency???
Oh Gawd no. Reagan presided over the beginning of the greatest income redistribution since prior to the Great Depression when the top 1% owned 29% of the nation's wealth, and the house came tumbling down. Regulation and oversight that had kept the country free of destructive boom/bust cycles for over 50 years were systematically removed, a process that continued under W. Bush to its inevitable conclusion.
Under Reagan's watch, businesses stopped being concerned with the long-term health of their companies and began to focus only on short-term profits. CEO's began to tie their compensation to stock prices rather than real value created. The era of mass layoffs and outsourcing began, a process which has decimated the earning power of the middle class.
It would be obscene to name anything, much less currency after this man. His actions and "leadership" led directly to the recession we find ourselves in today.
This is what's wrong with our government. All the problems that need to be solved, and some buffoon is sitting around worrying about whose picture is on the $50 bill. Changing it will cost money...money we don't need to be spending right now. So if Mr. McHenry has nothing better to do, I ask him to step aside, and let someone who can solve real problems have his position.
How about Theodore Roosevelt who created (for better or worse) the modern presidency and started common sense reform. He was for some ideas decades ahead of his time (health care).
If it is to be changed at all, it should be for President John Adams (1797-1801), who is the only one of the "Big Four" Founding Fathers - someone whose contribution to the birth of the US is incalculable. Washington, Jefferson and Franklin are all on bills, Adams should certainly have precedence over a historically dubious President like Reagan.
To clarify - Adams is the only one of the "Big Four" Founding Fathers who isn't currently represented on US currency.
Great idea...a GReat president... I'm all for it.
Are you kidding? Reaganomics did nothing but COST US $50 bills. It's one reason George HW Bush had such a tough time. Why do people still think he's an economic genius after our country was wrecked until 1993? Maybe things turned around while he was in office (I'm not going to defend Nixon/Ford/Carter's economics), but he didn't set us on any golden economic path. Clinton did (yes, lousy husband, but with Greenspan, a great economist).
Reagan's foreign policy with the USSR was good, but everywhere else, it was laughable enough to be the funniest comedy of all time... except it got people killed.
I'm a guy with conservative views, but people need to get over Reagan.
Just out the Bush "Miss me yet" billboard on it and be done with the issue.
An election year ploy to make up for accomplishing nothing in the prior two years.
Glad to see the fine congressman is focused on the burning critical issues of today. What else has he done?
Great idea. And by the way, geniuses, there IS no $500 bill.
Put him on Rushmore... the last real President this country's had. Let's see Obama dispaly the kind of cojones to Iran that RR dispalyed in the Iceland talks with the Soviets.
Genius indeed, Ricko.
http://www.moneyfactory.gov/uscurrency/largedenominations.html
Sweet Jeebus! McHenry is such an embarrasment. The only reason hes ever elected is for the same reason as Sue Myrick. They both run in districts where the electorate is uninformed, bigoted, and lack even a modicum of intellectual curiosity. Pure stupidity and willful ignorance!
First off, Grant was a terrible president, but that's not why he's on the fifty dollar bill. Note that Ben Franklin was not a president at all, so obviously, one doesn't have to be a good president to get one's face on a bill.
Grant was the best general the Union had in the civil war (albeit that's not saying much, considering the quality of our other generals) and he helped lead the Union to victory, arguably saving our nation as we know it. Was he easily manipulated once in office? Yes. Was he knowingly involved in several corrupt scandals? Yes. But obviously, his time in office has nothing to do with why he is on the fifty dollar bill.
Furthermore, I don't think we should put anyone's face on a bill until their legacy has time to solidify. Reagan was president only 22 years ago, and his policies are still very controversial. No one can say what the public opinion of him will be fifty years from now. Let's give it a little time, eh?
yeah.....that ain't gonna happen....mcHENry looks like an old Hastert hen.....let's get real legislation, helping people, not honoring a very bad actor and even worse prsident. Will never ever happen. Flipper has a better chance.
Remember when it was okay to sell weapons to Iran and to fund terrorists and assist with drug trafficking and shred government documents? Gotta love the legacy of the Reagan administration!
http://www.ustreas.gov/education/faq/currency/portraits.shtml#q2
Info on current and no-longer-circulated currency.
I agree -- Myrick and McHenry are losers bigtime.
Not only do I favor Reagan on the $50 bill. His face should be on Mt Rushmore. I'm serious. The guy was that great.
Since we are on the kick of immortalizing idiots, let’s create a 3 dollar bill and put resigned NJ governor McGreevey’s face on it! Then the expression “As queer as a 3 dollar bill” will become a statement of fact.
Since we are on the kick of immortalizing idiots, let’s create a 3 dollar bill and put resigned NJ governor McGreevey’s face on it! Then the expression “As queer as a 3 dollar bill” will become a statement of fact.
Since we are on the kick of immortalizing idiots, let’s create a 3 dollar bill and put resigned NJ governor McGreevey’s face on it! Then the expression “As queer as a 3 dollar bill” will become a statement of fact.
Personally, I think we should start abondoning the paper-based system for electronic to reduce the costs of paper bills and checks.
I'd keep Grant's image to save the cost of retiring the bills and reprinting new ones.
Let's continue working towards a paperless system.
If you're going to change it, put Geronimo on it. That guy was HARD.
I read about your proposal to put President Reagan on the $50. Why do you want to remove General Ulysses S. Grant? He defeated the Confederacy and is the reason we are the United States of America. The South should really get over losing the war. If you believe so strongly in President Reagan why don't you introduce a new denomination, say a $75 bill or something. You are not serious about this proposal and just want to get your big head in the news. I will be so glad when people come their senses and vote you out. You don't give a damn about your district, the jobless, veterans, or anything except holding this GOVERNMENT job while we have to pay for your healthcare.
I faxed my post to Mchenry. 202-228-0316. He's obviously run out of ways to get in the news legitimately.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Reagan, if not for him getting sick, would have found himself in a jail cell!!!!!! Get over it the SOUTH lost and for you or any other confederacy LOVER, is going to have to come up with a really good reason to remove a WAR HERO from the $50 bill!!! REAGAN, are you serious!! MY GOD HELP US ALL!!!
Rather than engage in such a colossal waste of time, may I suggest Rep. McHenry commit himself to addressing the pressing needs of his constituency by collaborating with the majority party on legislation including health care reform, financial system reform, reinvigorating the NC and national economies, and demonstrating support of our armed forces by working to end the Iraq invasion. Quit the grandstanding and do your job.
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