2007-09-01 14:51:00 · 9 answers · asked by Mark B 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
We already use the metric system in liquids i.e. 2 LITER of pop. Most things you buy when it comes to food or beverages have both standard and metric systems printed on them.
2007-09-02 17:53:56 · update #1
By the time most of the rest of the world was on the metric system, most of our major businesses were still operating under the American system. It's still that way, now.
Revamping to a whole new system of measurement would add untold costs to revising engineering drawings, retooling, buying new parts, and educating customers.
2007-09-01 15:04:24 · answer #1 · answered by Boots McGraw 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some of it is metric. Bolts and screws are metric along with plastic bottles. The conversion would also be costly (much more than the Y2K bug) as old equipment would need replacing. Some English standards are easier to see such as the pint, gallon, bushell (when using bushel baskets), cord of wood (the amount that will fit in a truck bed), a ton (about what many cars use to weigh) and a good what to measure heavy loads
2007-09-01 15:18:55 · answer #2 · answered by gregory_dittman 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There was a lot of talk about it a couple of decades back. I suppose it the same reason why the British still use the Pound and not the Euro. Old habits are hard to break. I never could understand why there were miles, nautical miles, statute miles, knots, fathoms, and all the rest.
2007-09-01 15:19:29 · answer #3 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Social inertia--not enough people still want it yet.
American citizens who are in scientific fields are already comfortable with metric, since they were trained in it.
2007-09-01 14:54:12 · answer #4 · answered by Mathsorcerer 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
We're too lazy to learn a new unit of measure and we don't want to lose all of our current Craftsman tools.
2007-09-01 14:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by bozopolis 3 · 4⤊ 0⤋
America has to be different - just look through history, america has never been a country to conform to other's standards - just violently enforce it's own on everyone else
2007-09-01 14:57:35 · answer #6 · answered by Rich W 2 · 1⤊ 3⤋
Partly due to pride. We like to be unique and have our own way to do stuff. It would be extremely costly (example highway signs). Also I just think its kinda stupid.
2007-09-01 14:56:36 · answer #7 · answered by Brett W 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I'm gonna go with what bozo said, cuz I wouldn't say it as diplomatically as he'/she did.
2007-09-01 15:14:54 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it would cause a mass panic, as people would wear coats when it was burning up outside, and we might nuke ourselves. stuff like that, cuz we're so stupid
2007-09-01 14:56:21 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋