Every other country in the world is using the metric system. Why can't we, the US, start using it and gradually phase out our measuring system? The least we could do is to start putting the metric measurements next to our measurements.
2006-11-27 07:50:01 · 11 answers · asked by Dmitriy Z 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Engineering
Besides Americans being lazy. Money should not be an issue because the govt has plenty to throw away on wars; it would only take a small fraction of the money spent on Iraq to start converting to the metric system nationwide.
2006-11-27 08:02:01 · update #1
I understand that there was already a push for this in the 1970s and 1950s but it was not done correctly. Why cant it be tried again? It makes no sense that all sort of conversion have to take place for import/exports and conversion mistakes like the one that miscalculated the huddle telescope.
2006-11-27 08:06:58 · update #2
Money is an issue unless you want to fund the cost for the conversion!!
The metric system wouldn't make any technology better.
Engineers and scientists still have to think to get things done correctly.
The metric system certainly hasn't helped your ability to spell.
2006-11-27 09:30:03 · answer #1 · answered by oil field trash 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, Just because "everybody else" is doing it does not make it a good idea. Second, the English system has several wonderful advantages over the metric system among them are appropriate measures for "human sized" items. Case in point, a meter is too long to effectively estimate, a centimeter and a millimeter are too small. In contrast, a foot and an inch are just right. Another example is that the English system uses base 12 which has a lot more factors than base 10; hence it is very easy to subdivide and to portion. (Ever try to estimate 1/10th of something; whereas, 1/12 is fairly easy, divide in half, half again, then into thirds.) Do not confuse positional notation with bases. As a practical experiment, measure out one meter then try to divide it into decimeters, centimeters, millimeters with just your hand and eye. Now try to do this with a foot into inches.
2006-11-29 15:38:53 · answer #2 · answered by Imagineer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Most scientists and engineers in the US do use the metric system. It is mostly the public who chooses to not use it.
Being lazy has nothing to do with it. Most americans have limited use for the metric system and the current system works fine for them. Thats the simple reason why they still use it. The metric system is good for science and engineering but if the public doesn't need it then why change from what they already know?
2006-11-27 08:24:01 · answer #3 · answered by dls_770 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There was actually a push to do this back when I was a kid... you'd see containers saying things like "1 gallon. 3.78 Liters". Or speed signs saying "55 mph. 88.51 kph." This made the metric system seem complicated and scary... instead of a nice friendly whole number, you have this *thing* with *decimal points*. Makes it a lot harder to figure out your dollars/liter cost that way. Now, a simpler way would have been to have a 4-liter jug and a 90 kph speed limit, but we pussyfooted around and the public rejected it.
It's like the dollar coin. It'll never take off unless the government takes the other option, the dollar bill, out of circulation. People like the familiar, and, since we have such a huge economy, we can afford to have a double measuring system for in-country and out-of-country goods... and we're willing to do that, since it's familiar and friendly.
2006-11-27 07:59:44 · answer #4 · answered by MissA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The US was moving to metric in the 1970's, but, old habits die hard and everyone didn't like the change. Also, the cost of coverting everything to metric was very expensive.
2006-11-27 07:53:59 · answer #5 · answered by jim 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
WE tried using the metric system in the late 1950's? but it didn't work
2006-11-27 08:00:26 · answer #6 · answered by Mons 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They tried forcing us to use the metric system back in the 1970's. I remember the propaganda commercials on TV, telling us how wonderful it is to be metric. Nobody bought it. We already have a perfectly usable system that everybody in the U.S. understands, so there's no reason to change it.
Besides, we are the United States of America. We don't change to conform with the rest of the world. If they want conformance, they can change to conform with us. "Arrogant", you say? Well, it took alot of hard work to get to where we are. We are entitled to the rewards.
2006-11-27 07:59:57 · answer #7 · answered by The Truth Hurts! Ouch! 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
It would be nice so I don’t have to watch Mythbusters with a damm calculator... But would be highly unlikely. Think of the implications. All road sings will have to be changed. Map books, GPS systems. Just to name a few. It an astronomical undertaking.
2016-05-23 14:10:26 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans are lazy and thick-headed. We're too arrogant to subject ourselves to other influences. STAY THE COURSE!!!!
2006-11-27 07:53:48 · answer #9 · answered by HELL HAMMER 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is not going to happen, so get over it.
2006-11-27 11:03:11 · answer #10 · answered by Stan the Rocker 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋