Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill?

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/harriet-tubman-wins-online-poll-20-bill-article-1.2220551

Harriet Tubman wins online poll to replace Jackson on $20 bill

America wants Tubman on the twenty.

A grassroots group that wants a woman on the $20 bill announced that abolitionist Harriet Tubman took the top spot in a poll that asked who should be pictured on the currency.

The organization Women on 20s started its campaign earlier this year. The group asked voters to decide which famous female it should nominate to replace the bill’s current face, former president Andrew Jackson.

Tubman edged out former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt and Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks in the 600,000-voter strong poll. The three finalists were selected in a primary poll meant to narrow down a list of 15 notable women.

Women on 20s will now present its petition to the White House. Changing U.S. currency requires an order from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury — which can be directed by President Obama, the group explained.

Tubman, a leading abolitionist during the Civil War, was born into slavery but escaped to Philadelphia in 1849.

She became a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad, traveling back and forth between the South and the North to help others out of slavery. She also provided intelligence to Union forces during the Civil War. After the war, she pushed for women’s rights.

Currently the only women on U.S. currency are suffragist Susan B. Anthony and Indian guide Sacagawea, who both grace rarely used $1 coins. Martha Washington briefly appeared on $1 certificates in 1886, 1891 and 1896 — but other than that, paper currency has been all-male.

Jackson, America's seventh president, has been on the $20 since 1929. Women on 20s hopes to have him replaced by 2020 — the year the U.S. will mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.

Sen. Jeanne Shaheen backed the campaign last month.

“It’s long overdue for that reflection to include the contributions of women,” the New Hampshire Democrat said in a statement. “The incredible grassroots support for this idea shows that there’s strong support for a woman to be the new face of the twenty dollar bill.”

What do you think of this? I don't have a problem with changing it personally. I think it would be kind of cool to have a notable woman like Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
11,112
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I've never liked the idea of having the President responsible for the Trail of Tears being immortalized in our currency, this is a good change.
 

rudeguy

Lifer
Dec 27, 2001
47,351
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Sure there is, a ten and two fives, three fives and five ones, a ten a five and five ones and if you start adding coins to the mix the possibilities for change are astronomical. :p

I just don't get it. Maybe I'm getting older and less tolerant, but people can't be bothered to actually read what they are commenting on. I don't get what is so hard about reading? Why comment if you didn't actually read the damn thing?

Are people really this stupid Jules? Is Obama putting stupid in the water? Is that what is really going on?

/me goes to listen to some classic rock
 

Druidx

Platinum Member
Jul 16, 2002
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If the sole purpose is to have a woman on the 20, I can think of several alternatives. If the pool is limited to African Americans, I would be happy with Tubman, Frederick Douglas or Dr. King.
 

JulesMaximus

No Lifer
Jul 3, 2003
74,590
986
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I just don't get it. Maybe I'm getting older and less tolerant, but people can't be bothered to actually read what they are commenting on. I don't get what is so hard about reading? Why comment if you didn't actually read the damn thing?

Are people really this stupid Jules? Is Obama putting stupid in the water? Is that what is really going on?

/me goes to listen to some classic rock

Well, it is just a campaign at this point but I don't see this as being out of the realm of possibility. But you are basically correct, we're merely in the discussion phase at this point.
 

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
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Fine with it. They picked someone worthy of the honor even discounting the gender angle, unlike some of the other suggestions which were a complete joke like Rachel Carson or Patsy Mink.
 

xBiffx

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2011
8,232
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Who uses cash anymore? I can't remember the last time I had a $20 bill. Of course, I don't frequent the red light district either. :hmm:
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
11,112
1,587
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???

There is no change

The article would disagree with you. Has it been done yet, no. But it still is a change, just one that hasn't been implemented. And I expressed support for it.
Changing U.S. currency requires an order from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury — which can be directed by President Obama, the group explained.
Women on 20s hopes to have him replaced by 2020 — the year the U.S. will mark the centennial of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote.
 

glenn1

Lifer
Sep 6, 2000
25,383
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But it still is a change, just one that hasn't been implemented.

It not only hasn't been implemented, it hasn't been agreed to or as far as we know even taken into consideration by the Secretary. So better to call it a concept than change at this point, although I could see this happening relatively quickly since there's nothing objectionable about it and easily understood benefits.
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
11,112
1,587
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I don't see any need for changing who is on the currency. Waste of time and money.

Well the money waste could be relatively minor to non-existent. Money in circulation has to be reprocessed as it wears anyway, so you do it then. As far as initial costs, I'm sure there's plenty of groups willing fund raise to pay those costs if it's made a requirement to make the change. And as the country grows older, those who've affected the country should be recognized and immortalized. It's not just the founding fathers, or the older Presidents, it's regular people who made a profound impact in who we are as a nation. All of our paper currency represents white males, which is a bit narrow of a viewpoint of our nation.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/harriet-tubman-wins-online-poll-20-bill-article-1.2220551



What do you think of this? I don't have a problem with changing it personally. I think it would be kind of cool to have a notable woman like Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill.
I have no problem with it. US currency had never been limited to only presidents (after all, Ben Franklin is on the $100) and many people have appeared them.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_people_on_United_States_banknotes
 

drebo

Diamond Member
Feb 24, 2006
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Atreus21

Lifer
Aug 21, 2007
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If the sole purpose is to have a woman on the 20, I can think of several alternatives. If the pool is limited to African Americans, I would be happy with Tubman, Frederick Douglas or Dr. King.

Douglas gets my vote.
 
Dec 10, 2005
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Equating Harriet Tubman to Ben Franklin is...I don't even know.

If they want to put someone black on it, put Martin Luther King Jr. If they want to put a woman on, I'm sure there are many better options.
It's hardly comparing Franklin to Tubman. I'm just pointing out that lots of characters have graced our currency, from Founding Fathers to statesmen, military officers, and even private individuals. Just look through wiki list.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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George Washington is on both the quarter and the dollar. Retire him from the dollar, and replace with a nice symbol of our nation. Get rid of Jackson, who was horrible on human rights, and - if you're going to time it for the bicentennial of women getting the right to vote - then use someone who had something to do with women getting the right to vote. (Duh.) Susan B Anthony or someone along those lines.
 

CitizenKain

Diamond Member
Jul 6, 2000
4,480
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Oh, there's a good reason to do things, to try and make some group you don't like mad! Yay for 'logic'. Idiot.

Well, its not the only reason, but seeing a bunch of idiot republicans get mad about a black person being on their money is going to be great. Especially a black woman.

Only way it could be better if it was Michelle Obama.