why are we the only country in the world not using the metric system?

Question

also, why are we the only country to have the drinking age at 21?

Answer 1

because our priorities are screwed up (and they also wanted to be different from the Europeans they were fleeing from) --just like you can't drink until 21 but you can go to war and die at 18-or you can't get a tattoo unless your 18 or have a parent or legal guardian to say it's OK-but you can have an abortion at the age of 13 w/out a parent or legal guardian's consent( And I still believe it's a woman's choice to do what she wants to her body-if she's gonna be "judged" it's not by man)---we need to start being the Country that the World can look up to again..instead of the shameless overly religious Country that we have seemingly become

Answer 2

We would benefit from the metric system greatly, I agree. But then who would use the fractional system? Some body has tro keep it going. Do you know that we really do use the metric system on a daily basis, and most dont realize we do. Our money is based on the metric system. Everything is divisible by 10. As far as the drinking age goes.I am on the fence with that one. If a man can be sent off to fight wars, and vote for elected officials who send them to fight wars,then he should be able to have a belt or two with his family or buddies. And when I was comming up the drinking law in NYC was 18.

Answer 3

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We haven't changed over because we are stubborn and lazy, as well as it being costly.

However, the metric system is vastly superior because its measurements are based on the physical properties of water, AND the rest of the world uses it. One milliliter of water weighs one gram, and if it were a cube it would measure one centimeter on each side at 20 degrees Celcius (room temperature), and 100 degrees Celcius is boiling and 0 degrees Celcius is the freezing point of water. The Metric System makes good sense and all measurements relate simply to any other measurement, in multiples of 10 or 100. Actually our Scientific and Medical communities already use it (a "cc" is a cubic centimeter, or a gram), as well as the Government, because otherwise they could not share information with the rest of the world. But the average person typically doesn't need to relate to anything on an international level (as far as measurments go anyway), so it has not been very important to change over for the general population (yet). But, it is still in our best interest to do so (see my reference).

As for the drinking age, the United States continues to have one foot in the age of the Puritans, on many issues: "mood-altering" drugs are illegal, as well as prostituion (mostly). Although it appears that, as usual, people still tend to do what they want, despite the legality of it. We have a Federal law in effect making the drinking age 21, although many people think if you are considered an adult at 18, and allowed to smoke and die for your country at that age, you should also be allowed to drink.

Answer 4

Originally, the colonies ...err United States was going to switch to the metric system in a couple of years. But those "special interest groups" said it was too expensive. Even back then. And they are still saying it today.

For some obscure reason, somebody picked 21 and everybody jumped on the bandwagon.

Answer 5

The drinking age should not be lowered. Teens get into enough trouble with auto accidents and illegal drinking. They are not mature enough to handle it.

The US did not convert to the metric system because it would be very costly to do so, people weren't willing to change, and there would be no benefit to change over. Things still have to be measured, no matter what system you use.

Answer 6

Screw the metric system!

As for the drinking age, that should be 18. You're either an adult or you're not!

Answer 7

metric will be embraced in the US about 10 years after soccer (football) becomes the national sport. Just not our thang. We'll have to share a pint sometime and talk about it. I'm willing to go the extra kilometer, if you are.

Answer 8

Metric system dont use because we dont. And the age 21 thing because who ever did that decided they wanted to.

Answer 9

Both probably have to do with the Puritans. Back when the U.S. was a few humble colonies, the citizens didn't like being taxed by the British, so they rebelled and won our independence. That's why we drink coffee instead of tea - we wanted to be different from the Brits.

And also from a Puritanical standpoint, we have our origins in strict religious people who didn't want to give the freedom to drink to anyone too young.

Answer 10

Our system originated to prevent other countries from using our weapons