Why didn't the U.S. people want to use the metric system?

Answer 1

we are unique

Answer 2

Change for change's sake isn't cost efficient. When the true cost of changing to the metric system became apparent (retooling factories, parts, changing equipment to handle different sizes of fill material (i.e. milk jugs, cans etc.), changing road signs etc. (the list goes on and one) turned out to be a monetary nightmare. Most people decided the money was better spent elsewhere, both by government and individual businesses, both small and large. No one really wanted to have to replace, retool and rebuild the entire nation's system.

Contrary to popular belief, Americans didn't "make up" this measuring system. The measurement system commonly used in the United States today is nearly the same as that brought by the colonists from England. These measures had their origins in a variety of cultures-Babylonian, Egyptian, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Norman - French. The ancient "digit," "palm,","span," and "cubit" units evolved into the "inch," "foot," and "yard" through a complicated transformation not yet fully understood.

Ask the British if they are happy that they changed. Most that I've spoken to (most, not all) aren't.

Answer 3

I am working for a state transportation agency, and the main reason for us to change it back (Caltrans had been calculate and create plan sheets in metric since the 90s) is because Federal Government supposed to be funding State for all the changes, but failed to do so. State ran out of money (excuses) to make the change and decided to return to English units.

Government was trying to make a change and doing it step by step instead of a complete switch. That was the biggest problem (commitment).

By the way, I found the unit BTU and mile being extremely annoying.

Answer 4

I think that most American children are taught both Metric and Imperial for measuring things. Just because we usually use Imperial does not mean that we are not educated in Metric.

Answer 5

They did not want to use the metric system because they wanted to be unique in everything that they did because they considered themselves "Superior" to other countries!

Answer 6

they're stubborn, and the system they use has been working for...however long it's been in place. why would they convert to the metric system when all other countries are willing to convert to inches and feet?

Answer 7

Well... You know how the U.S. wanted to be different from every other country in the world? That's why we don't use the metric system. We don't use Celsius cuz' Fahrenheit invented something for us. Um, that's what the the teacher told us in school...

Answer 8

The metric system lacks romance mystery excitement /// // five feet sevens sounds sexier than the metric equivalent - - -

Peace.....

Answer 9

Because for some reason the US decided to distingish itself in every way from everyone else at all costs even if it meant making up a nonsense measuring system that overcomplicates everything and makes for harder questions on standardized tests.

Answer 10

My guess, the U.S. felt it was better than everyone else and thought only "the other people" should have used it. Someone told me that. Oh well.

Answer 11

We were SUPPOSED to!!! I think the problem was we kept trying to "convert" instead of just switching. You get used to it quickly if you just "switch", but if you are constantly "converting", people revert back to the old way.