Bass Pennies

Penny earned is a penny wasted

Recently the US Mint released for circulation the new and more colorful $5 bill, I talk about that here. Today, I take a different look at our money, those pesky pennies ($0.01 US). Recent debate has flared up again as to whether or not the penny should remain in circulation as legal US tender. This is not the first time this issue has come up before, but with the rising price of commodities, the debate has heated up.

There is some disparity about how much it costs to manufacture a penny, but it is clear that it costs more to mint a penny than the penny is worth. Most peg the cost at 1.7 cents per penny to mint with nearly 8 billion pennies minted a year. This nets the Treasury Dept. around a $50 million (US) loss per year. Is it really worth having something that most people simply throw away?

I for one would rather end the use of the penny and at the same time remove the dollar bill in favor of the dollar coin. Many people fear that the removal of the penny will increase prices as most retailers would round up than round down. There would likely be the initial shock, but with modern retailing practices, how many of us actually pay with pennies on a regular basis? Credit and debit cards make up the majority of transactions and pennies are relegated to the black world of our penny banks. It would be a shame to loose Abe Lincoln on the penny, but I think its time to change, move on, and stay modern, instead of holding onto the iconic legacy of the penny. The utter uselessness of the penny was made apparent to me yesterday when I toured the new Bass Pro Shop store that opened up in Denham Springs, crush your penny and get a souvenir for visiting the store...talk about a good use of our money.

Louisiana: Sportman's 'Outdoor Retail' Paradise

Most of the state licenses plates of Louisiana have a white background, blue numbering and the phrase "Sportsman's Paradise." But now, I like to call the area around "The Rouge" Sportman's Outdoor Retail Paradise. Both Cabela's and Bass Pro Shops now have a major store within 20-30 minutes of "The Rouge." For those of you not familiar with these stores, they are large retail chains that offer a variety of products that one would use in outdoor activities; camping, fishing, boating, hunting, and hiking to name a few.

RAC and I visited the newly opened Denham Springs store and I will say that I was quiet impressed. Not with the selection, as its the same for nearly every store across the U.S., which is subsequently made in China and ALSO sold at Cabela's, but for the interior decorating that was done in the store. You enter in and you are greeted by towering (though concrete) Spanish Moss covered trees, making it feel as though you are shopping in the bayou. Taxidermy of various native species was integrated within the design and it was really impressive. Live ducks, fish and even a raccoon can be found in the store. If you're around, check it out, its worth the stop if you're an outdoor enthusiast.
Cheers!