(NAPSI)—An increasing number of Americans have found a new way to save a dollar—or, at any rate, to save the dollar bill.

At Issue

That’s because they’re asking legislators to oppose the effort to take the dollar bill out of circulation and replace it with a dollar coin.

The dollar bill’s supporters say such a switch would not only eliminate an American icon, it would cost businesses money. According to the experts at the economics research firm John Dunham & Associates, getting rid of the dollar bill would cost businesses about $200 million a year and lead to more than 4,000 job losses—and that doesn’t even include additional capital expenses such as new cash registers, change-counting machines, cash drawers, larger safes and so on. There will also be costs to banks, money transfer companies and other financial firms.

The Expert’s Opinion

“Essentially, this would be a tax increase on businesses from coast to coast,” explained John Dunham. “Americans are already struggling with a poor economy, and forcibly removing the dollar bill from circulation for a dollar coin will only exacerbate these problems for business owners.”

The Government Report

A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report appears to agree. It indicates “the cost of producing coins for a full replacement is never fully recovered during the 30-year analysis.” Even without considering the cost of producing, transferring, distributing, storing and managing dollar coins, the GAO estimate shows that the dollar coin would actually be a net cost to the government for at least the first 10 years.

The People’s Preference

The potential switch is also unpopular. According to a study by Luntz Global, 97 percent of Americans believe the dollar bill is more convenient than the dollar coin.

What Some People Are Doing

Americans for George-a group of like-minded individuals, businesses and organizations seeking to ensure that the citizens of the United States maintain the ability to choose their preferred currency-has a number of ideas about how to save the dollar bill.

What You Can Do

To get more facts, sign a petition or learn about additional steps you can take, visit www.AmericansforGeorge.org.

 

On the Net:North American Precis Syndicate(NAPSI)