Loonies and Toonies

We need to bring back the dollar coin and get it right this time. I lived in Canada for three years where they use dollar coins and there are so many advantages to it. However, the dollar coin won't ever catch on unless there's also a two-dollar coin. Soon after Canada switch from one-dollar notes to coins in 1987, they soon came out with the two-dollar coin and it worked.

You see, people don't want to end up with a bunch of one-dollar coins in their pockets. For example, if something is 75 cents and you pay with a five, it's a hassle to end up with four one-dollar coins in change. But if there are two-dollar coins, you'll get two of those.

Canada calls their dollars "Loonies" for two reasons: (1) There's a loon on the coin and (2) it says L'une on the coin. "Loonie" became the official name of their currency soon after that. You'll hear on the news, "the Loonie is up five cents since yesterday." Subsequently, they call their two-dollar coins, "Toonies."

Here are some advantages to one-dollar and two-dollar coins:

1. They're great for vending machines. You never have to use those dollar-bill changers that never work anyway.

2. Coins last a lot longer than paper notes. It would save the U.S. Bureau of Printing and Engraving millions, no, billions of dollars in the long run; money that'll undoubtedly be needed to clean up after the Bush legacy.

3. Dollar coins are great for laundry machines. No more quarters needed.

4. Toonies are great for tipping. No more conspicuous dollar bills flying around the table.

5. In Toronto, the subway fare was $2.00 (well, it was when I lived there six years ago) Toonies could be used as subway tokens. Plink!

And the best reason of all:

Strippers make out like bandits. You just can't put a Loonie or a Toonie in a g-string, so strippers are happily festooned with five-dollar bills instead of ones.

So, I say it's high-time we make the switch. Cinnamon, Cody, and Miss Kitty Litter will thank you for your patronage.