As the United States prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary, Americans will celebrate the nation's founding with pageantry, parades, pomp and patriotism.

Loving one's country of birth and taking pride in its independence-inspired origins, praiseworthy accomplishments, and laudable legacy is a natural inclination and respectable trait.

Similar celebration and reverence shouldn't apply to the dollar, the nation's debased and debauched fiat currency. Even though Federal Reserve Notes feature portraits of prominent American patriots and U.S. presidents, including George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, the founding fathers weren't fond of unkept paper promises and currency not redeemable for silver or gold.

A decade after the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, Washington expressed his concerns about paper currency to Jefferson. In a letter penned Aug. 1, 1786, the president-to-be noted some of the original 13 states were "falling into very foolish and wicked plans of emitting paper money."