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Posted on 06/09/2004 9:15:23 AM PDT by bertmerc1
Yes, replace that big government Hamilton.
He is not a conservative hero. Get rid of him.
$20 bill is the most widely used currency worldwide. Think how many "foreign dignitaries" will be p. off when they see Pres. Reagan's face on the bill.
Hamilton was a big government liberal.
I must confess that I am a little bit confused at wanting to replace the common man's president Andrew Jackson, who had some tough principles that he stood on.
Get rid of that big govt. sec. of the treasury on the 10.
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He was on the wrong side of the nullification crisis.
But, I feel he is a much better person than someone who caused a lot of problems and allowed the spread of federal power...Hamilton.
Lets reverse the none and give it either to the $10 or the $20 bill
because it is only a matter of time before we kill the penny...
Hamiton was never president.
And...Hamilton was a terrible SHOT!
Finally, I implore freepers to recognize Hamilton's efforts on behalf of the Constitution, particularily the Federalist papers. He was fighting the battles against the Jeffersonians, battles we are still fighting today. I love telling my classes about how Hamilton was so important to our early nation, that he is one of the few non-presidents on our currency.
I vote for the $100...
Certainly he was correct on the national bank etc. and not Jefferson (I hope I have the players right).
But, the argument economically, even to this day, is largely Jefferson vs. Hamilton.
Jefferson is more like us than Hamilton.
While Jefferson was wrong in some of the debates, he is much closer to the conservative train of thought about freedom and liberty.
At a mass meeting held in the fields in New York City on July 6, 1774, he made a sensational speech attacking British policies. (Age 19)
He joined Washington’s personal staff in March of 1777 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He served four years as Washington’s personal secretary and confidential aide. (age 22)
He secured a field command through Washington and won laurels at Yorktown (Sept. – Oct. 1781), where he led the American column in a final assault in the British works. (age 26)
At the Annapolis Convention in September of 1786, Hamilton served as one of three delegates from New York. He supported Madison in inducing the Convention to exceed its delegated powers and personally drafted the call to summon the Federal Convention of May 1787 at Philadelphia.
His greatest achievement:Hamilton immediately used his talents to secure the adoption of the Constitution. Hamilton was the first to publish a letter in the Constitution’s defense. This article was published in the New York Independent Journal on Oct. 2, 1787, only two weeks after the Constitution was signed. He was one of three authors of The Federalist. This work remains a classic commentary on American constitutional law and the principals of government. Its inception and approximately three-quarters of the work are attributable to Hamilton (the rest belonging to John Jay and James Madison). Hamilton also won the New York ratification convention vote for the Constitution against great odds in July 17-July 26, 1788. Chancellor James Kent stated that "all of the documentary proof and the current observation of the time lead us to the conclusion that he surpassed all of his contemporaries in his exertions to create, recommend, adopt and defend the Constitution of the United States."
During Washington’s presidency, Hamilton became the first secretary of the Treasury. In this position he secured the traditional strength of American finance. He is chiefly responsible for establishing the credit of the United States, both at home and abroad.
On January 31, 1795 Hamilton resigned from his position of Secretary of the Treasury and returned to the practice of law in New York. Despite his resignation, Hamilton remained Washington’s chief advisor through a continual interchange of letters between the two men. Typical of the relationship, Hamilton wrote Washington’s Farewell Address in 1796.
Two years later, Hamilton returned to military service at the age of forty-three. Here, he served as active head of the army under Washington that was organized for the impending war with France. Washington himself insisted that Hamilton serve in that position as a condition of accepting the position.(it says a lot about Washington's confidence in Hamilton.) Hamilton served from July 25, 1798 to June 2, 1800.
Hamilton seems to have read Burr’s character correctly from the beginning. Based on his opinion of Burr, Hamilton deemed it his patriotic duty to thwart Burr’s ambitions.We need to remember that it was Hamilton's persuasion of the Federalist-dominated House that led the House to select Jefferson as president over Burr, after the Electoral College ended up with a tie.
It seems clear that eventually, he paid for this with his life when he also did all he could to undermine Burr's attempt to become governor of New York to set up his future ambitions.(and we all know how having a powerful position as a legislator from New York can further your national political ambitions.)
As for the duel...The duel was fought at Weehawken on the New Jersey shore of the Hudson River opposite New York City. At forty-nine, Hamilton was shot, fell mortally wounded, and died the following day, July 12th, 1804. It is unanimously reported that Hamilton himself did not intend to fire, his pistol going off involuntarily as he fell. Hamilton was apparently opposed to dueling following the fatal shooting of his son Philip in a duel in 1801. Further, Hamilton told the minister who attended him as he laid dying, “I have no ill-will against Col. Burr. I met him with a fixed resolution to do him no harm. I forgive all that happened.” Hamilton’s death was very generally deplored as a national calamity.
We can disagree on this...but I think it's good for our citizens to ask..."Why is this non-president on our currency?" As a teacher, it provides an opportunity for a teachable moment. Almost from childhood, we are all made aware of the many contributions to our young country by Benjamin Franklin. I think Washington's confidence in the young Hamilton, and his tireless work to the seemingly impossible task of ratifying the constitution, and his tireless efforts towards guaranteeing the solvency of the young nation, merit his remaining on the currency.
Put Ronnie on the $100. Most of this post is borrowed from this website:
http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/burr/HamiltonBio.htm
We're almost at 70%!
As appropriate as Barney Frank might be, I'll go with the PHONY as a three dollar bill scheme. Therefore Bill Clinton deserves that honor.
I'd take off Grant - the $50. Grant was a good general but a horrible president.
A valid compromise...if need be.
"Have you had many problems buying stuff with that "worthless" paper money? It's always worked pretty good for me."
So far, yes. Will you be able to buy anything if the currency collapses like happened in the last few years in Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey, Zimbabwe, and a few other places?
That's just goofy.
Reform the currency at the same time.
Dump the penny (a dime is worth a minute of a minimum-wage laborer's time; smaller coins are a drag on retail transactions.)
Phase out the nickel and quarter.
Coin a new half-dollar, sized between dime and dollar coin, with Jefferson's image (needed, for reasons below.)
Dollar coin would become the third smallest coin denomination (instead of the sixth smallest.) Change to Washington's image from "single mom."
Add a 5-dollar coin with REAGAN's image.
Drop the $1 and $2 bills.
Keep $5, 10, 20, 100, and add $500 bill comparable to 500 Euro note.
(A less radical version of this plan keeps nickels and quarters.)
The above system is equivalent in value to a pre-inflated ~1960 system of penny, nickel, dime, half dollar coin, half dollar bill, $1 bill, $2 bill, $10 bill, and $50 bill. It wasn't radical then, and shouldn't be now.
(Reagan could also be on $500 instead of $5 coin.)
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