The $2 Bill Proposal

[White]

     Having cast my mind a bit toward the problem of acquainting and inculcating the N.H. populace with Liberty's answer to the questions of the day-- for certainly no gain shall be had for freedom without a sizeable constituency for it-- I've hit upon this stratagem which I would have you consider:

     With respect to spreading the word to gain adherents, it seems to me that nothing circulates so efficaciously as money.

     Now, as a long-time student and devotee of Jefferson, I have made it my little custom to disperse the $2 bill as a nod to the old fellow, for example often leaving one as a gratuity for a drink or a light meal.  The novelty of it seems to have good and fun appeal.  Indeed, on my most recent scouting trip to Portsmouth, at the end of the day I cracked on over to the Press Room Tavern, where the waitress greeted me with "Hey, you're the guy who gave me that Jefferson-bill last summer!"
 
     I suggest that if a good number of the friends of freedom used this denomination as their preferred alternative to the $1 and $5 bill, including always at least one $2 bill for any cash payment--  with a pithy and purposeful slogan and advertisement stamped or neatly written upon it--  the uncommonness of it might be useful for getting folks to reconsider the status quo. 

     This is in the spirit of appropriating the master's own implements to overcome him, and has the added poetic beauty of the image of the heroic progenitor of American libertarianism on its face!  What do you think of making the $2 bill our own?

     As for the messages which might be used on the bill, I could suggest things like:

        "Declare Independence Again!", or  "Does the IRS deserve this bill more than you?--  Dissolve Monster Government!", or, "Tell George W what I told George III"---
 
         ---all with a web address or phone nuimber of the civic or educational organization you see fit (NHLA, etc.) where people could go to find out more. 

     While I have no illusion that this could catch fire, still, such an activity could be a good hook, and wouldn't it be a kick if the $2 bill became the pecunia franca of the free people?  Perhaps best of all, this takes very little effort in participation; all one need do is go 'round your nearest Usury Outlet (any bank) and gleefully exchange all your dreaded likenesses of Lincoln, Hamilton, and Jackson for that of the sage of Monticello! 

     
     Thanks for your consideration, and please feel free to relay this post to any appropriate web forum.

                                                                                                   Cheers,
                                                                                                   D. Francis White
     

[FTL_Ian]

Neat idea.. can banks really get their hands on a sizable amount of these?  I hardly ever see them around.  Perhaps the $2's use is discouraged, because we're not to be reminded of who Jefferson was.

Ian

[White]

Indeed!  Being hardly ever seen around will make them all the more interesting for our purposes, enhancing the prospect of more attention or even eventual media coverage. 

Yes, banks have them on hand.  The tellers will usually have a few banded in the back of the drawer, or in my experience will if ordered go fetch all you want from the vault holdings.  I usually obtain $40- $100 of twos at a time. 

                                                                                             Cheers,
                                                                                             -DFW

[FTL_Ian]

Will any old bank give them out in exchange for other bills, or does one need an account?

Ian

[JonM]

If you go to a decent sized bank they usually have some, you could probably also "order" some at your local bank of choice.

[Kat Kanning]

Fun idea!  You could use a money stamp like they've been using for the FSP:

http://www.currentlabels.com/

BTW, welcome to the underground forum, DFW! 

[Russell Kanning]

I really like this idea. How long before all the $2 bills are stamped by us.
They will have to stop making them because of all the stir we are creating.

[intergraph19]

I'm all for it.  It makes good sence. 

[Russell Kanning]

Wouldn't it be funny to see a $2 bill every few days ..... and find it covered in liberty slogans .... what a great inside joke for all of us....the banks will start wondering what is going on.

[Kat Kanning]

OK, let's get a list of possible slogans and make some stamps

[Pat K]

The FreeStateProject.org if you think were radical check out what the guy on the bill your holding had to say!

[White]

OK, let's get a list of possible slogans and make some stamps

     It's good to be welcomed by those familiar to me, who I hope to see again soon in N.H.

     As for slogans, besides those which I offered in the original post, perhaps these might work:

      "Legalize Freedom--  www.(your preferred liberty group).org",
                                 [or, 1-800-xxx-xxxx]

      or,
      "You earned this bill-- keep it!   END TAX SLAVERY"

      or,
      "It's your right to revolt!:  --N.H. Constitution Article X"

     Of course Jefferson's own quotations tend to run out to a length not so fit for stamping, but perhaps it's good to recall a few here as we sort out the task:

       "A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.  This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities."

      "If we can prevent the government from hampering the labors of the people under the pretext of caring for them, they shall be happy."

     And,
     "We are not to expect to be translated from despotism to liberty in a feather-bed."

     I might also suggest that the type-face for the stamp be semi-italic or something else redolent of the late eighteenth century. 
     That's my two cents' worth-- or, $2 worth.   
                                                                               Cheers,
                                                                               -DFW

[Russell Kanning]

We tried to get some $2 bills yesterday at the Keene BofA and they were out, but had just been discussing this with someone.....hmmm I wonder if it one of our co-conspirators

[Ender]

 I love this idea,I had woundered if anyone ever noticed fsp stamps..with all the "wheresgeorge.com" stamps out there. The $2 bill will always gets a second look.

[White]

We tried to get some $2 bills yesterday at the Keene BofA and they were out, but had just been discussing this with someone.....hmmm I wonder if it one of our co-conspirators

Dear Russell,
    This provokes a memory of the last time I was in Keene, and at the neat coffee-house there on the main drag, I gave a $2 bill to the serving-gal there, a nice, natural, bohemian-type.  She remarked about it, and we discussed Jefferson's fascination, in which I suggested that one who appreciates his take on freedom might consider voting that way next time. 
     "Yeah," she concluded, "he was the coolest of the Founding Fathers!" 

     Delightful!             

                     --Yours,
                       -DFW