© Ad Meskens / Wikimedia Commons
July takes its name from the Roman statesman, Julius Caesar. Talk about perpetuating honor. Getting a month named after oneself is far more permanent and universal than having one’s name or initials on a local airport, hospital, or highway. Not to mention that these places all instill a certain sense of disquiet (TSA inspections, illness, crazy drivers). What about a statue in the park? Fuhgeddaboudit. Too much exposure to pigeons and vandals. Heck, even having one’s portrait on banknotes is no guarantee (rumors persist that Jackson’s spot on the $20 is up for grabs). With digital currencies looming, even Washington and Lincoln must be rolling in their graves. In the future, will we see a Benjamin when we tap the C-note app on our phones?
A note about permanence and payment systems: In the days of Caesar, gold, silver, and salt were mediums of exchange. These items are rarely found in today’s purses or wallets. In the 7th century, the Chinese came up with paper currency, from which we are quickly moving away. I last visited an ATM back in frozen February, and the five $20s are still in my wallet. Coins? In a jar. On the dresser. And having spent a year concerned about the fomite transmission of SARS-CoV-2, who wants to touch this filthy stuff anyway? In 1871, electrons entered the payments game, courtesy of Western Union’s wire transfers. The first charge card came about in 1950 with the introduction of the paper Diner’s Club Card. In 1958, American Express soon followed with a plastic version, assisted by the ‘chuck-chuck’ card imprinter and carbon paper. Nowadays, in addition to electronic card readers, we have the added convenience of spending down our bank balances by simply tapping our phones. I read that, before long, we will go to Target, load up the cart, and just push everything out the door while a device tallies the bill as we exit. “Paper or plastic?” Perhaps neither.
Getting back to Julius, Caesar played a critical role in the demise of the Roman Republic. Heads of state, being human, have always been a mix of good and bad. I have no idea why it took so long, but on July 4, 1776, 56 congressional delegates from the Thirteen Colonies risked life and limb to initiate a change. Twelve years later (I’m a big fan of careful deliberation) The Constitution was ratified. Having recognized the fallibility of kings and emperors, the new system centered on allegiance to the rule of law, not fealty to a potential (ahem) megalomaniac. Thus, in 1789 it was not King George Washington, but President and CEO George Washington. The role of the president was purposed to be that of an executive, with powers checked by laws and other branches of government, and subject to a performance review every four years. Over the past 245 years, this system has helped us outpace our cousins in England, as well as dispatch a few dictators along the way. So far, so good. But as Ben Franklin once said about these United States, “It's a republic, if you can keep it.” As for permanence? Consider that Caesar’s Roman Republic survives today as a tourist destination, best known for haute couture and good wines.
Fingers crossed. Happy 4th. 
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