6,947 votes
Complete the job on metrication that Ronald Reagan defunded
The government has failed to take the lead on completing the task of moving the country completely to the SI metric system. George H.W. Bush tried to do something about it, but gave the bureaucrats an easy out. Failure to follow the same measurement standards as the rest of the world is costing US industry something like $1 trillion per year.
usma
GoMetricToday, most countries that changed over to metric in the 1970s set a 10-year conversion period. Once there a REAL national commitment to metrication, and the "starting gun" is fired, there is no turning back. Measurement is something that everybody does. It is beyond politics. Once it starts, and the economic and social facts are created, it has to proceed to completion.
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
With the current economy. What does everyone thin the possibilities are that we can finish our metrication during the next 4 years? Will Mr. Obama consider the financial ramifications on our country if we don't complete what was started back in 1866? I seriously hope that he takes a good look at this site realises that we are serious about moving forward with metrication.
about 1 year ago
usma
Supporters of U.S. metrication might want to consider adding their thanks to Mr. Gene Messick of OpEd News for supporting "Obama metrication." See
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Time-for-America-to-go-Met-by-Gene-Messick-081201-701.html
about 1 year ago
Totakeke
Besides, it isn't that hard to "drive metric," if you will. It's just a matter of matching the number on your speedometer with the one on the sign. People will get used to it.
Slow seems like the best way, but we might want to try it differently this time around. Another failed metrication attempt might turn people off to the metric system forever. And we don't want that.
about 1 year ago
Totakeke
The problem is dual unit signs, weather reports, etc. don't really work. All people see are the old units, and completely disregard the metric units. The best way would probably be to get people used to it and then make one big switch, kind of like the switch to digital TV. They've been announcing it for months now (I think even so far back as last year) and are changing all at once.
about 1 year ago
pancake
I think he trick is to do this slowly. Whenever a road sign is replaced, use both metric and standard units. Since the signs would be replaced anyway, there is no additional cost to changing them. Also require that speedometers in cars read in both km/hr and miles/hr.
about 1 year ago
usma
Old Engineer, the change would be painful for some Americans only if it is done without an effective public information plan. The everyday metric system is a snap to learn, but people need to know why the change is being made and what it will mean in their daily lives. See http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Metric/lc1136lv.cfm#inchlb
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
Old Engineer, the change wouldn't be sudden. Some old measures will have to remain for some time. It took Australia several years to phase out the old measures. But we should no longer keep struggling with an archaic system just because some people refuse to accept another and better way of doing things. We can no longer be the 363 kg gorilla in the room. We need to get with the programme.
about 1 year ago
Old Engineer
The change will be painful for most of the nontechnical population. Technical and engineering professionals have already made the switch in many industries. Undergraduate engineering programs have been "metric" for years.
about 1 year ago
Ametrica
Here is another website dedicated to advocating metrication from President-Elect Obama:
http://my.barackobama.com/page/group/MetricSystemAdvocates
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
I know Wakka is on our side. :o) I was just pointing out how things in the archaic system can be so different from one measure to another and how things weight differently depending on whether they are dry or wet. In SI we don't have to worry about that. If it says 1 kg then it is 1 kg whether it is wet or dry. :o)
about 1 year ago
Totakeke
I think Wakka's already on our side. ;)
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
Wakka we wouldn't need to worry about whether the product is dry or wet (ex. 16 dry ounces and 16 wet ounces). Since both of them could actually have different weights it would be so much easier with SI. Not to mention the odd and archaic measurements that go into making an acre. I still can't wrap my mind around that. I could see that SI was easier almost 30 years ago when first taught it.
about 1 year ago
Totakeke
Exactly. It is very frustrating. But I'm feeling good about this one. I think this time around, within the next 4 years, there's a good chance we'll be metric (this website is a very good start).
about 1 year ago
wakka092
SI is so easy - base-10. No longer would we have to remember 16 oz. = 1 lb, 128 fl oz = 1 gal. All you need to do to convert is to move the decimal place! No longer would we need conversion ratios. If other Americans saw the ease of SI, we'd switch in a heartbeat. We are the greatest country in the world - why not have the best system of measuremeny
about 1 year ago
step forward
I believe the USA is the only country that has not adopted the metric system. it would send a message that we are in the same world. It would help exports. and we may not loose another probe on mars because of the wrong calculation with feet V Meters. help spread this idea around, it would show that our education system can handle this. We are smart enough to change
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
"mrbriguy007
I strongly support this effort. However, I have always been curious:
Can anyone estimate the cost to re-sign every road in the country?"
The cost could be minimal. Weather proof stickers could be placed on the speed signs until new signs could be made to replace worn or ageing signs. Mile markers and exit markers can be done in the same way. This can start with the interstates.
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
When given the proper information, the Australians were able to convert over and have lived at peace with the metric system for over 30 years now. A compulsory change over is the only way to make the change over happen. We have tried the voluntary way and it didn't work. We are loosing trillions of dollars in trade commerce because we aren't fully metric. In this economy can we afford that?
about 1 year ago
Ametrica
In order for SI to be compulsory, Congress must first fix the standard and make SI the ONLY legal system. All pre-SI units must be made non-legal so their use or abuse becomes unsupported by the government. All legal conversion factors between SI and pre-SI would be removed and pre-SI units would becomes just words with no measurement value. A CTO can work with Congress to make this happen.
about 1 year ago
Bruce M. Herbertson III
During the 70's and 80's when we were supposed to be converting. The school system went headlong in teaching the students metric. We didn't learn much of the old way until I was in high school. I ask Mr. Obama to make it compulsory for the change to be completed. Follow Australia's example. From what I understand their conversion was pretty painless.
about 1 year ago