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

[bhsup]

Why should we? Our system works just fine. It's when trying to accommodate those metric zealots that things like the Mars probe crashing occur.

 

[Disgustipated]

because things like 7/8 and 15/16 are annoying as hell when looking for sockets.

 

[Xanikk999]

We may never officially adopt it. I mean we haven't even OFFICIALLY adopted English language yet but nothing is stopping the metric system from gaining main stream use.

The metric system is already used exclusively to the standard system in medicine, science and the military. It has also seen civilian use in some products such as 2 liter soda bottles.

Americans are learning the metric system and we are gaining more familiarity with each generation.

 

[Formaldehyde]

You can blame Ronald Reagan and the military dragging its feet for this one.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States

The U.S. Metric Study recommended that the United States implement a carefully planned transition to the principal use of the metric system over a decade. Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 "to coordinate and plan the increasing use of the metric system in the United States". The Act did not stipulate the conversion happen over a decade. Voluntary conversion was initiated, and the U.S. Metric Board (USMB) was established for planning, coordination, and public education. The public education component led to public awareness of the metric system, but the public response included resistance, apathy, and sometimes ridicule.[6] In 1981, the USMB reported to Congress that it lacked the clear Congressional mandate necessary to bring about national conversion. Because of this ineffectiveness and an effort of the Reagan administration to reduce federal spending, the USMB was disbanded in autumn of 1982.

 

[Xanikk999]

^

Another reason to hate that monster of person, Reagen. Wish the assassination attempt on his life was successful back in the day.

 

[amadeus]

Another reason to hate that monster of person, Reagen. Wish the assassination attempt on his life was successful back in the day.

At least he didn't have to have his co-worker set him up with Jane Wyman.

 

[Bill3000]

Why should we? Our system works just fine. It's when trying to accommodate those metric zealots that things like the Mars probe crashing occur.

I hope you realize that cars are now universally built with metric parts.

 

[Ajidica]

Why should we? Our system works just fine. It's when trying to accommodate those metric zealots that things like the Mars probe crashing occur.

So Imperial Measurements are now responsible for the loss of life emerging from the building of the Transcontinental Railroad and mining disasters?

 

[Leonel]

I used the Fahrenheit system purely out of convenience. Otherwise I'd switch to Centigrade in a heart beat. It makes more sense to base it off the boiling point and freezing point of the most abundant thing on the planet.

Any respect I had for Fahrenheit went out the door when I learned the most powerful nation's temperature measuring system is all based on Mr Fahrenheit's hot wife. Literally, he said 100F was the temperature of his wife's armpit and even then his wife ran hotter than normal.

 

[amadeus]

I can't believe all you barbarians still use that antiquated Celsius scale. FACE

ITT: losers and their inferior thermometric scales

PS: it's 279.15 here in Minneapolis.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Meh, if all the important institutions and stuff already use metric, whats the point of making everyone switch over?

 

[berkut]

The same way as the world embraced english as the internetional language, america should acept the metric sistem.

 

[Zelig]

Why should we? Our system works just fine. It's when trying to accommodate those metric zealots that things like the Mars probe crashing occur.

I don't want probe crashing.

 

[Virote_Considon]

Nationalism is a lazy ideology.

This statement is 100% inaccurate.

 

[woody60707]

No need really. The metric system is easy enough to learn. So if you need to know it, you pick it up in a heart beat. But yea, US schools' should start teaching the metric system.

But you all need to face facts that the Fahrenheit system is by far the best use for everyday use. Celsius piggy back on the wave of Metrication. What's dumb because Celsius isn't a real SI unit. 0-100 unit system, nah, lets use a -17 to 37 for everyday use. That would be so much better. The boiling and freezing point of water isn't even universal.

But I guess one day the world is just going to force us to use Celsius. Using Celsius is BAD, and you should feel BAD!

And to the poster who said

It makes more sense to base it off the boiling point and freezing point of the most abundant thing on the planet

That would be salt water. Kinda like Fahrenheit's ice/salt mixture, which is...wait for it... 0 Fahrenheit. Oh snap! I'm glad we both agree Celsius is fail.

 

[azzaman333]

Because it's communist.

 

[bigdog5994]

the better question is why isn't everyone just like me?

 

[Hehehe]

By that logic, everyone in the world should speak English, and not bother learning their native language.

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

A lot of people already speak English. And also why would they abandon their native languages? People can speak many languages you know

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.


It would actually create jobs to promote a more educated society.

I pretty much agree with this plan. If I had to oversee the transition, this is what I'd do.

Why should we? Our system works just fine. It's when trying to accommodate those metric zealots that things like the Mars probe crashing occur.

I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that you don't have a degree in sciences or engineering

 

[Disgustipated]

Meh, if all the important institutions and stuff already use metric, whats the point of making everyone switch over?

The military is the last major institution that needs to change over. The nuclear power industry in the navy was almost entirely standard system with a few metric things thrown in for confusion. For example the reactors were measured in Megawatts, not Horsepower. But the turbines were still rated in shaft horsepower.

The job I currently work is mostly metric with a few U.S. customary (I just call it standard system) units thrown in for confusion. There is only two manufacturers left that use customary units. If only they would switch over my job would be much easier .

As for road signs and all that, it really isn't that important. But for any kind of manufacturing, they should use metric. As it is, I need both metric tools, and standard tools.

 

[Uncle Anton]

The military is the last major institution that needs to change over. The nuclear power industry in the navy was almost entirely standard system with a few metric things thrown in for confusion.

The job I currently work is mostly metric with a few U.S. customary (I just call it standard system) units thrown in for confusion. There is only two manufacturers left that use customary units. If only they would switch over my job would be much easier .

As for road signs and all that, it really isn't that important. But for any kind of manufacturing, they should use metric. As it is, I need both metric tools, and standard tools.

Erm, I could be wrong here as I'm not US Military myself, but I'd heard that when deployed, US personnel use Metric for interoperability purposes with the rest of NATO? I've heard target indications from US pers on EX given in Metric?