There's been much talk lately, in both the US and Canada about abolishing the penny, the largely worthless one-cent coin both countries continue to circulate. Among other reasons for the recent intensity is the fact that pennies now, in both countries, cost more to make than they are actually worth due to ever-rising zinc prices.

Pat Martin, an NDP Member of Parliament has introduced a bill that would seek to abolish the coin, while a variety of interest groups in the United States have similarly rose up in opposition (one guy was on Colbert last night as I drew this, amusingly). But despite a lot of sympathy for the cause, the penny is almost certainly not going anywhere. It's one of those minor problems everyone loves to complain about, but nothing is ever done to seriously address.