"Wait a minute...I have a penny."

Here is just one good reason to get rid of pennies in the US: old people who hold up lines at pharmacies, grocery stores, delis and any other place that takes cash by uttering those magic words: "I have a penny!"

Lately, it doesn't seem to matter how much the total is. $3.56? "I have a penny!" That one is understandable. $11.15: "I have a penny!" But WHY?

I grew up being taught to respect our elders. I still practice that teaching. So instead of getting angry or frustrated or delayed, let's just eliminate pennies from US currency. Yes, I believe that would give us the greatest increase in productivity since the widespread use of computers.