why doesn't America use the metric system ?

Answer 1

because the people who have the power to change it are used to the other one

Answer 2

Pretty much the same reason everyone uses Windows, even though many say Mac is better.

People stick to what they're used to, unless they're forced to change. America started as an English colony, so we use the English system of measurement. The metric system was adopted in Europe because Napoleon conquered Europe and FORCED everyone to adopt it.

There have been proposals for America to adopt the Metric System going back to Thomas Jefferson, and America was the first country to adopt a decimal currency, but without a compelling reason to change their habitual measuring system, nobody wants to go to the trouble.

However, now that Americans are getting fatter, the metric system might catch on. Saying you weigh 135 (kg) sounds a bit better than saying you weigh 300 pounds!

Answer 3

The answer is based on cost and industrial propaganda. Most industries lobbied the government to stay on the English system because the cost of converting to a metric system would be too high..so they said.... and so did the government believe.....too bad...because the metric system is easier to use, mathematically, and, if you ever used the metric part of a ruler, it is more accurate in making measurements because the metric divisions are smaller.
We are partially metric, our money is based on the root ten system and no one has trouble counting money.

Answer 4

Why should we?

The metric system is elegant. Everything is based on the friendly number "10". Science likes the precision of metric.

But in the end, the metric system is arbitrary. It is just as arbitrary as our English measurement system. All systems of measurement are arbitrary. We just make up little marks on a stick and use them to compare things to other things.

Since that is true, why not let the will of the People decide which system to use. (BTW, we DID decide...)

Answer 5

That is not our way of life. Why does Europe not use the American standard system? Its a lot more simpler than the metric system. And you are not always having to convert everything from metric if you people would switch to our system. If we switched to metric can you imagine how much that would cost the American people. Myself alone it would cost me over four thousand dollars to get all new measuring tools. I work as a tool and die maker and have a lot of precision measuring equipment.

Answer 6

Why should we. the metric system was created by a bunch of french that wers influenced by a bunch of arabs that failed to control the spanish, just corrupted them. The english system works because it is based on relations to everyday things. A drink is a half pint, a pound is a size of a young woman,s breast or a big glass of beer. there are grains based on a grain of wheat and a whole bunch of realistic stuff. A comfortable bag of wheat to carry is a bushel Live with it or go live with the arabs in araq..