Why is the U.S. still not using the metric system?

Disgustipated

Disgustipated

Deity
Joined
Nov 14, 2006
Messages
12,218
Location
Las Vegas
Seriously, I'm becoming more and more embarrassed by my country. Yes I know, people will tell me to leave. But our country as a whole is being left behind in technological progress. Are Americans just too stupid to use the metric system? I can't believe that because it's actually easier than Imperial (or customary) units. How can our American kids keep up with the rest of the world with this archaic measuring system?

I'm sure you guys have had this kind of thread here before, but I still can't believe we are using this in 2011. You think Obama of all presidents would change this over. Yes I know there is a recession. But think of the possibilities of putting unemployed people to work changing all the road signs. I remember when I was a kid in the 80's I figured it was only a matter of time before they change it over, but it hasn't happened yet. Why?

The rest of the world must think we are horribly backwards.
 
Cultural reasons, I suppose. It's not like imperial is horribly crippling to the American public. If this were the case, one would have to argue that the stubborn refusal of the Japanese to abandon clumsy Kanji writing also contributes to stupidity, which clearly isn't the case.
 
They should abandon that writing, but that's another thread. :)
 
yo
...
 
While I am all in favor of converting to metric, there are a few reasons why it will never occur:
1. Crotchety old people. "What was good enough for grandpappy is good enough for me, so it should be good enough for you. Why should I be bothered to learn some newfangled system?"
2. Overly concerned deficit hawks. "Just think of the cost of replacing all of those signs and re-doing all of those maps and everything else!"
3. Not-quite-grasping-the-point Tea Partiers. "OMG Big Government trying to tell you how you should measure stuff. Next thing you know they will be instituting metric death panels and requiring you to pay metric taxes so some metric illegal immigrant can increase the metric deficit by passing metric health care law acts that enlarge the metric budget."
4. People who do like the idea but aren't commited to it.

I'd trade the US learning the metric system for everyone learning English.
Click to expand...
Difference. MEtric is the system for any scientific measurements with the SI tables and is intuitive. English is neither an international standard or intuitive. If you want a 'world language', lets just learn Esperanto and be done with it!
 
Dreadnought said:
I agree. I'd trade the US learning the metric system for everyone learning English.
Click to expand...

only if we reform the stupid obsolete spelling system too
 
Disgustipated said:
Seriously, I'm becoming more and more embarrassed by my country. Yes I know, people will tell me to leave. But our country as a whole is being left behind in technological progress. Are Americans just too stupid to use the metric system? I can't believe that because it's actually easier than Imperial (or customary) units. How can our American kids keep up with the rest of the world with this archaic measuring system?

I'm sure you guys have had this kind of thread here before, but I still can't believe we are using this in 2011. You think Obama of all presidents would change this over. Yes I know there is a recession. But think of the possibilities of putting unemployed people to work changing all the road signs. I remember when I was a kid in the 80's I figured it was only a matter of time before they change it over, but it hasn't happened yet. Why?

The rest of the world must think we are horribly backwards.
Click to expand...

Your insinuation that the imperial system hampers our scientific progress is false. Scientists only really use the metric system.
 
It's just too much of a hassle. Americans are too conservative to change over. And any time the subject seriously comes up, it dies for lack of interest.
 
Dreadnought said:
By that logic, everyone in the world should speak English, and not bother learning their native language.
Click to expand...

Well since you mentioned it, yes everyone should speak English. :D

According to the American Central Intelligence Agency's Factbook, the International System of Units is the official system of measurement for all nations in the world except for Burma, Liberia and the United States.
Click to expand...

It's poor company we keep.
 
Because the Metric system is the tool of the devil :run:.

(Someone had to make a Simpsons reference :p)
 
The other day I was thinking about how much easier it would be to attempt to visualize large numbers and distances using metrics (because they are increments of 10x's) rather than our system (which is totally random!).

How to switch:

Mandate that within 10 years, anything that uses the Imperial system must also have the Metric system equivalent.

Within 20 years, these same places must have the Metric system, Imperial system equivalents optional.

30 years later people will have an idea of both and perhaps we can abandon one.

Ajidica said:
2. Overly concerned deficit hawks. "Just think of the cost of replacing all of those signs and re-doing all of those maps and everything else!"
Click to expand...
It would actually create jobs to promote a more educated society. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

GoodEnoughForMe
Should the US Invade Greenland (Denmark) & Panama
24 25 26
Replies
515
Views
21K
Crezth
Crezth
Moriarte
The New Tariff Conversation
3 4 5
Replies
88
Views
4K
Thera32
T
danjuno
Why is everything so flat?
2 3
Replies
58
Views
5K
RalofTyr
RalofTyr
Klaus Hergersheimer
That Other Jimmy Carter Topic
2
Replies
21
Views
2K
caketastydelish
caketastydelish
Dhoomstriker
Congress, Stop Supporting Censorship! KOSA Threatens Free Speech in the US
2
Replies
23
Views
2K
Dhoomstriker
Dhoomstriker
Back
Top Bottom