On it's face, you're right. Getting your daily workout lugging around that many coins is impractical. However, Rep. Schweikert has the beginnings of the right idea here to at least put the brakes on some of that growth in the debt.

With a few exceptions, until about the mid 1930's, US currency was directly pegged to a set value in a fixed asset like gold or silver.

What we should be considering is to go back to that fixed standard with something akin to a Liberty Dollar.