Is it really too late for the US to switch to the metric system?

[anthroguy101]

Come on, people, this is long overdue!

Most of our children have learned SI and are capable of managing the switch. Over 190 other countries have been able to make the switch. What makes the United States any different?

I, as a natural-born American citizen, think it is time for a change. We have been too ignorant for too long. Our scientists keep getting frustrated having to convert from Metric to US Customary and back. Indeed, our cars are continuing to switch over their parts to metric sizes so that they can compete in a global economy. We can do this. We should do this (Indeed, we don't want to end up with another Mars Climate Orbiter incident). The fact remains however that we have not.

The reason we failed the first time was NOT because the policy was too strict, but because it was not strict enough. Placing signs and making labels in both Customary and Metric will only confuse people and make them angry. However, if the signs are replaced with metric-only units, I think people will quickly realize the simplicity of the system. Base 10 is just about the easiest way to do anything. 1 km = 1000 meters, what's not to get?

Does anyone ever realize why your Head & Shoulders shampoo bottles come in odd sizes? Look at the metric. It'll probably say "X00 mL" on it. Most people in America should know by now what a Liter is (thank you beverage industry). 700 mL sounds a lot better than 23.7 Fl Oz. Unfortunately the Fair Labeling and Packaging Act prevents manufacturers from using metric-only labeling within our borders, meaning they have to make equipment that will produce products in Metric and Customary sizes or labels.

Knowing Celsius should also be easy. Here's a little poem: "If it's 0 it is freezing. If it's higher it is not. If it's 20 it is warm and if it's 30 it is hot." Imagine using kilowatts instead of horsepower so that we can easily compare electric cars to their gasoline counterparts. I think the hardest unit people would figure out is kilograms, but it's just a little over 2 pounds.

As liberals, we are all about change. I just wish there would be a politician that would take this seriously. Hopefully there will be a state that will try to change and prove to be different from other states. Unfortunately we have a militant Tea Party that will resist any change and would likely consider this a "threat to their freedom" and "socialist," and also bring up the totally worthless argument that "nowhere in the Constitution does it say the government can tell us--" (ignoring the fact that there is nothing that prevents us from doing so either).

So, what are your thoughts? Do you think we should switch to the metric system, and if so, how should it be done?

[EFerrari]

1. We don't want any of that socialist French stuff around here, mister.

My friends use liters to light their cigarettes and "kilowatt" sounds like a horror movie, thank you very much. We'll stick with feet and cups and PG&E, just like our grandparents did. They made it across the planes, we can too!

(eta: that's my Sarah Palin Lady BlaBla impression, just to clarify :hide: )

[babylonsister]

2. Once we resolve wars, oil spills, the economy, the environment,

I think this could be considered.

[Godhumor]

3. Doesn't even rank in the top 50 issues, as far as I'm concerned

Nor do I think it is worth spending any political capital pursuing.

[rzemanfl]

4. BP would use it to confuse us. I think they'd like to measure the

spill in gills or something equally arcane....

[HughMoran]

5. I don't have a problem with it other than I hate "Newtons" as a force unit.

I eat Fig Newtons, the only force they exert is on my waistline.

[customerserviceguy]

7. Eat enough of them

and they'll exert a force south of your waistline...

[customerserviceguy]

6. If we wouldn't do it as the baby boom generation was growing up

We probably aren't going to do it anytime soon. I remember them cramming the metric system into my head during the 1960's and even the early 70's, figuring that this large cohort of Americans would adapt to it much better than previous generations of Americans.

As I told my foreign exchange students who seemed fascinated by the continued use of our non-metric system, "Here in the US, we stopped at the two liter soda bottle and the hundred millimeter cigarette."

All I can say is that it seems to be symbolic of American individuality, a way to distinguish ourselves from other nations by having something noticeably different.

[Kringle]

8. consumers will be ripped off ...nt

[Lithos]

9. No

But it requires two things, an improvement to the US education system and an end to the insularism - two things likely not to change in any near future.

[William Z. Foster]

10. I think the English system is better

The old system is based on human proportions.

The metric serves those who want to organize and control things and others, and appeals to people who are uncomfortable with the human element, are uncomfortable with irregularity and nuance and culture and art.

Let things grow and evolve, so what if they are "messy" or "out of control," and let people use what they are comfortable using.

Strange how we allow the wealthy few who control out economy, our lives, our government, to run amok doing whatever they like while destroying the planet and robbing us of everything, and we imagine some faith-based ideas to be in play there - "free markets" and "invisible hands" and "human nature" and such.

But when it comes to the "ignorant" plain people, the common working people and their every day lives - those are to be examined, watched, analyzed, regulated, rationalized, organized, directed, controlled, taxed, and punished.

I think the two are related.

[Jkid]

11. Why not use both systems and let culture, business, and perference sort it out?

[SheilaT]

12. My son who is a total

geek scientist at heart uses metric all the time. I frequently ask him to translate for me. Seems he really thinks in metric.

The only part of it I actually have a major problem with is the temperature aspect. I like the smaller degrees we have in Fahrenheit.

[fishwax]

13. meh

I can easily adjust if we switch, but I don't care enough to make noise about it, and would just as soon keep the current system. Especially Fahrenheit.