Since the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed in 1990, changes have been made from Disney World, and your car, to elevators, doors, and bank tellers just to name a few. Though color changes have been happening for some time, that does not help the over 4 million Americans in need of further assistance.
"We have been discriminated against more years than I care to explain, there is no reason why this small concession has not happened yet." Complained Amber Black, a visually impaired member of C.O.D. Change Our Dollars group that has been petitioning for decades.
Just about every other country in the world has had different size bills for decades, the US is one of only countries who has not changed the sizes. Even as recent as 2009 has legislation dragged it's feet in this situation even though it has already been deemed discriminatory. Though color changes have been happening for some time, that does not help the over 4 million Americans in need of further assistance.
Richard McMallard a manager in the Dept of Treasury talked to us about this subject.
R&L - It seems like it would be easy to change, why hasn't this happened yet?
RM - True, changes to the currency have already happened, do you like the state quarters? the New Nickles? The new Pennies?
R&L - Yes, they're fun to collect, but you know that's not what we're talking about.
RM - Ah, the bills, they have changed too. Now, if you had bad eye sight you can really see the presidents face on the bill!
R&L - Mr. McMallard, please.
RM -Not only that we hired a famous engraver and added beautiful colors as well.
R&L - Richard, Dick...
RM - Richie, please. Look, we added the Sacajawea dollar coin, even changed all the vending machines to accept them. The cost of that change - millions. And, do any on you have one on you now? Even one?
(Everyone took a minute to look in pockets and purses)
R&L - Um, no. But one of our sons has a few in his collection. They're just too heavy and pretty to carry around.
RM - Thank you, any other questions? I'm a busy man.
R&L - Just a minute, you never actually answered our question about the sizes of the US paper money denominations.
RM - I thought we went over that. Sorry. Right, we have many different proposed changes to the size and texture of the new bills, here is the latest:
(He walked us into a small room behind a key coded locked door that said "Authorized personnel Only")
Inside the room was a large Italian man sitting behind a desk, he was playing solitaire on his computer until he saw us.
RM - Hiya Vinnie, mind if we go in?
Vinnie - (Eyeing each of us) Go ahead, they're still there.
RM - This is where we keep the new bills.
The room was crowded with items on shelves. An entire shelf of what looked like prohibition era liquor, posters from unions past and present, Photos of what looked like UFO's, and stacks and stacks of binders labeled EPA, Exxon, Bridges & Tolls etc. It was...a scary place to be.
RM - Vinnie here like to collect...funnny items, and since this job seems to have passed from his father to him, he didn't bother cleaning it out
R&L - The Money?
RM - Yes, it's here. We have plans to go ahead with size changes just as soon as the money is in the budget for new printing and pressing machines, it's a huge operation, you can't just change plates like we do now.
R&L - And the money will be added to the budget when?
RM - It was supposed to be 10 years ago, and then 9/11 funds pulled it.
R&L - And now?
RM - Right, um, Republicans have put a freeze on spending, this got cut as well.
R&L - And the last 10 years?
RM - I wasn't in charge then, sorry. But I assure you, things will change, here, here's a compilation of what the bills will look like. You have to go now, thank you.
R&L - Thank you, and...have a good day.
R&L - Wait, Dick..er Richie, this is the new design? You paid someone to design this?
RM - Yes, A lot of money
R&L - But it's only Photoshopped current currency, no changes at all! We could have done a better job than this!
RM - Put it in writing and give it to my secretary, she'll take care of it. I really have to go now.
Money, it all comes down to money it seems. Who has it, who makes is, and who has the right to spend it. Currently, it seems, it's in good hands - As long as the "bills" are paid.
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