Gov. Jan Brewer refused Thursday to make Arizona the second state in the nation to declare privately minted gold and silver coins, bars and ingots to be legal tender in the state.

So if you think the lines at the grocery store move slowly now, imagine waiting behind someone who wants to pay with a few chunks of gold.

State lawmakers are close to declaring privately minted gold and silver coins to be legal tender in Arizona.

NEW YORK — At the beginning of each tourist season, the entrepreneurs who pitch the thrill rides, hot dogs, sideshows and souvenirs at gritty Coney Island gather along its famous boardwalk to pray for two things: good weather and large crowds.

Johnny Carson asked the financial guru, Andrew Tobias, “If you only have $1,000 to invest, what would be your best investment?” The answer made the audience laugh. They laughed!

State senators voted Wednesday to make gold and silver legal tender in Arizona -- but not copper, cattle, cotton, citrus or climate.

Arizonans who fear the federal government will make their folding money worthless may soon be able to substitute privately minted gold and silver coins.

WASHINGTON — Buying your own health insurance will never be the same.

“Two things stand in the way of what Liberals truly want: citizens with guns and the Constitution, and we shall use the First to defend the Second!”

Editor's Note: These letters to the editor have been sorted by topic by the Tribune editorial staff in an effort to allow readers to read varied opinions on the issues, candidates, and other circumstances surrounding the 2012 general election. These submissions are the opinions of the author, not the Tribune, and have not been edited for grammar or content.

Arizona is once again becoming a popular place for tourists.

Do you know how long a dollar bill lives? A paper dollar’s life span is between 1.5 and two years. So who cares?

I never dreamed that taking the advice of local television morning anchors would ever come to any recognizable good, but the one time that it did, well, I just can’t believe it.

I never dreamed that taking the advice of local television morning anchors would ever come to any recognizable good, but the one time that it did, well, I just can’t believe it.

Rep. David Schweikert continues to push for the end of the U.S. dollar bill, but a recent poll shows even District 6 Republicans aren’t sure they’re ready to say goodbye to the paper dollar.

“Snowbirds sure think they own the handicapped parking spaces. I had one, at the zoo, tell me to move my car because disabled spots were for old people. I had a placard up and was putting my son in his wheelchair! I told him that being old is not a disability and that his state should stop giving placards to everyone over 50 regardless of their physical abilities.”

“I applaud our President’s recess appointment of Mr. Cordray to direct the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau! It’s about time Mr. Obama confronts the Republicans who seek to block his every good move and keep our nation in such desperate straits. Clearly, Republicans — representing the upper 1 percent — want to keep the rest of us at an economic disadvantage while continuing to enrich themselves. Among Mr. Cordray’s responsibilities will be to oversee and regulate payday lenders, who suck the life out of desperate, struggling Americans. Too bad, Republicans, your lie of ‘Congress is in session’ has been finally challenged. If we cannot stop your rich buddies, we will at least slow them down.”

Saying it will save money, the Obama administration is scrapping the production of presidential dollar coins even as an Arizona congressman wants them to replace greenbacks.

I thought I would write to point out the blatant hypocrisy of Congressman David Schweikert. You see, when pushing for the dollar coin, he “concedes that the dollar coin has not taken off, but argued that can be changed if Americans are forced to use them.” Can you imagine if a Democrat said that? The Republicans would jump all over it and say “How dare you restrict freedom of choice.” In fact, Congressman Schweikert often speaks out on the fact that we need free markets and less regulation. But what is forcing Americans to use dollar coins? Isn’t that just further government regulation, Congressman?

The self-proclaimed friends of George Washington are not going to let a first-term member of Arizona’s congressional delegation take his picture out of circulation.

Congressman Schweikert’s heart is in the right place. He deserves credit for trying to save the taxpayer money. But his dollar coin bill is simply not a realistic solution to our economic woes. The money saved is not that much, and the American people are just not going to switch to all coins. There is a reason that there is over one billion dollars worth of coins sitting in the treasury gaining dust.

Does anyone remember the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin?

The choice for Paul Konerko was an easy one.

The choice for Paul Konerko was an easy one.