Pennies and Piggly Wiggly

This episode of The Anthropocene Reviewed reviews the American penny and the Piggly Wiggly grocery store chain. The host, John Green, argues that the penny is a wasteful and pointless form of currency, costing more to produce than its value, while highlighting the historical context of its creation and the political inertia preventing its abolishment. He then discusses the impact of Clarence Saunders and his Piggly Wiggly chain on the American grocery industry, noting its role in lowering prices but also contributing to job losses and changes in American diets. The review concludes with a reflection on the cyclical nature of business and the lasting impact of both the penny and Piggly Wiggly on American culture. Green assigns the penny 1.5 stars and Piggly Wiggly 2.5 stars (later revised to 3 stars).