Discriminate is such a strong word, and I don't think it necessarily applies here, but this is a good idea.

Canadian bills already have it!

Let's give each denomination a different scent.

Indonesian bills have this too... the bigger the note, the higher the value.

oh for f#$k's sake...

This is actually pretty legitimate. Of course, it would have been entirely too easy to incorporate braille into the new hideous bills that they have started putting out.

Check Cards.

Problem solved.

Hell, providing Check Cards for the blind will cost exponentially less than redesigning, reprinting, and uncirculating current bills.

Not to mention all the vending machines and other machines that accept bills that will need to be refitted.

.That is a poor excuse to screw over the blind.
And what about all of the businesses that only accept cash?
Progress is fine and dandy so long as there is no paperwork involved..

Screw over the blind?

Really?

I'm nearly positive that this won't get through.

Why? There's a difference between de facto discrimination and de jure discrimination.

De jure discrimination is discrimination that occurs because of a law written specifically with an intent to discriminate. See Brown v. Board of Education

De facto discrimination is discrimination that occurs accidentally, and it isn't true discrimination. This is one of those cases that is de facto discrimination in that the money wasn't created to discriminate, but because of the money the way it is, discrimination has occurred.

Yes, when you cannot see your change you cannot tell who is cheating you, and if you use the bus or various other systems you most likely use cash. and to ignore that need because it might cause some paperwork is selfish at best.

I don't see this as that big of an issue if transitions are done over a term. As one reader stated, it's already done in other countries with little problem. The US recirculates money every few years anyway and has people whose job it is to design money mainly to beat counterfeiters. I doubt it would be that hard or costly to do since we already have the tools in place. And I'm quite sure vendors will do what they have to to refit machines to get they money on, yo. But there does have to be a transitional period given. So, the US could plan to have everything amenable to the blind in 5 years or 10 years to minimize disruption.

That is the only way it could be done. It probably wouldn't take more than 10 or so years to fully incorporate it.

Yeah...and making money different sizes discrimiates against us anal retentatize obsessive compulsive people who want the money in their wallet lined up and straight.

Brail wouldn't bother me. :)

I don't know why you got downvoted for this. Check cards would make a lot of cents.

I would like to point out a flaw in your argument though. How would a blind person use a vending machine? If you can't see what you are choosing how can you pick? Wouldn't they all be surprise dispensing boxes? "I got a drink! IT'S DR. PEPPER!!"

I know blind people and this has been an issue with most of them. I think that the check card would be a good fix for most instances but there are places where you need cash. Like buying drugs or playing poker.

(That is my subtle humor placing a nice hole in my own argument please don't bother to explain to me that blind people don't play poker)

Good point on the vending machines. But you see, they would have to retrofit the vending machines anyway because the currency would be different. Even if blind people can't use the vending machines.

Canada has had braille on its paper currency for years. Get with the times, neighbours! lol

stamp em with some braille... not hard, guys

I just have to comment on this one.....my grandfather was blind, he became blind later in life....he could tell the difference between the denominations of the bills.

The bad news is that the newly printed bills will be cost 340% more money to make than the face value of the bill.