Personally, I am an American that would prefer we move to the metric system. Consider this question, how much is one-fourth plus one-fifth? How about this question, how much is 25 cents plus 20 cents? Was the second question easier to answer? That's the power of the metric system. Help me with my goal - The United States to use the metric system by October 10, 2010. The date that day will be 10-10-10. Did you know that the metric system is already the official measurement system of the US? Why don't we use it? It's so much easier to work with a system of 10, rather than a system of 8, 12, 36, halves, fourths and other strange numbers.
How many inches in a foot? 12. How many feet in a yard? 3.
Now, how many centimeters in a decimeter? 10 How many decimeters in a meter? 10!
Why not use a system that all the rest of the world uses, and is Soooo much easier to use?
2006-06-14 01:08:11 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
Because they think that since the U.S. is such a successful country, they figure: "Why should we change?"
That's why we're stuck using medieval measuring systems and expensive and/or no healthcare.
2006-06-14 01:52:56 · answer #1 · answered by karkondrite 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The English measuring system has been with Americans longer than the metric system has. Also, it's an accurate way of measuring things.
So, the main reason for not changing to the metric system is that we've been using a standardized system that is accurate for measurement.
Once you have a society accustomed to doing things a certain way, it's not easy to shift a society to doing something in a new way. Especially if the current and traditional system is functional.
That being said, I agree that the metric system is easier to understand than the old English system. As such, it makes the concept of measurement easier to understand.
I guess if you want the US on the metric system by the 10/10/10, then you should start some kind of organization. Create a website, create materials (or find materials) that help educate people about it, and get involved with schools around the country to teach the metric system.
Sounds like you have the start of a business.
Good luck.
2006-06-14 01:23:02 · answer #2 · answered by dgrhm 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The metrication of the US is taking a while. The metric system was recommended as the preferred standard of weights and measures in 1988. People in their 30's(like me) had very little metric system education in school, but the younger people who attend grade school after 1988 are better trained. I think 10/10/10 is a great idea, but it will be hard to convince many people to convert.
2006-06-14 01:20:36 · answer #3 · answered by extrasynaptic 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
1) We have used it for so long it would be pretty much impossible to switch. The government tried and failed.
2) It is not at all difficult to use the American system for most things, and the metric system when referring to science or international studies. Scientests do it all the time.
2006-06-14 01:13:04 · answer #4 · answered by . 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Hey from deepest darkest Wales!
In the UK we somtimes use metric and sometimes use imperial. For food it tends to be metric, although we still have the 1lb jam jars (Jam=jelly in USA, I think!) just they say 454g on them!!! Roadsigns would cost so much to change into Kilometers, so I guess that will have to stick. We still weigh each other in stones and tend to measure our height in feet. All very confusing. Anyway, your question - I don't really know! I guess it would be too expensive!!!
2006-06-14 01:14:57 · answer #5 · answered by Tim J 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's just stupid. Ive worked in many shops and the jap cars were so much easier to work on because of the metric system.
2006-06-14 01:13:27 · answer #6 · answered by JOSHZILLA 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
because as americans we just have to be different. and changing to that standard now would make be tough on older people who have never used the metric system
2006-06-14 01:11:32 · answer #7 · answered by sooziebeaker 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A lot of people have been doing it the same way for a long time, change comes slowly, and not at all for some.
2006-06-14 01:11:02 · answer #8 · answered by doktordbel 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Perhaps, but as Americans are smarter than the rest in the world, we prefer to use a more advanced and difficult system because we have the ability to understand it. Why use a simple system when we have an advanced one we can understand? Why make it easier for mexicans to understand our system?
2006-06-14 01:11:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
Beacuse Most of the americans are Non Matrix
2006-06-14 01:22:31 · answer #10 · answered by Idiot No 1 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋