Why doesn't the us use the metric system?

Answer 1

Apparently because we enjoy losing Mars probes. Actually, that's not quite fair. The Mars Climate Orbiter wasn't lost just because we used standard measurements. It was lost because one group of programmers used standard measurements while the other group used metric. But, on to your question.

Jefferson actually suggested a system of measurements based on powers of ten, but he did not use prefixes to multiply base units into more convenient sizes. Instead, he had a different name for each power of ten. For example, under his system, a foot was made of 10 inches, an inch was made of 10 lines, and a line was made of 10 points. The government considered his proposal, but ultimately decided not to implement his system because it lacked scientific support. As a result, America was left with the system of weights and measures established much earlier, and which were not based on powers of ten.

The US has been "metric-enabled" since 1866, when Congress officially made it illegal to invalidate a contract made by or with somebody using metric measurements. However, by this point the traditional system was already well-established, and people were loathe to change. The government did not seem to want to force them to, either.

In the 1970s, Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, whose aim was to speed up the public's acceptance and usage of metric units. Again, however, the public was quite comfortable in its ways, and the only real effect of the act was to cement the metric system as the system of choice in scientific and technical fields.

Many industries and laboratories utilize the metric system extensively, although road signs and other "public relations" outlets use standard units. The only big difference between the US and the other major countries is that the US government hasn't insisted we all use metric measurements in lieu of any other system.

Answer 2

I'm not sure, but I DO know that the US is very ssssllloooowwwlllyyy converting to Metric. Ever notice Big Soda Bottles with the words Liters on it? And besides, science requires the Metric System anyway, so we should just convert.

Answer 3

I've heard US Standards are more based on natural laws. Like an inch was about the width of a man's thumb, a foot about the length of a man's foot. Machinisits don't like metric.
On some military contracts manufacturings things used in other countries armies I believe they must be metric.

Answer 4

We like things the old way. Look how sad the Brits are to lose their Imperial Pints!

Answer 5

because it would be very expensive to covert evertything over to metric, like speed limit signs and such

Answer 6

because it is easier to convert

Answer 7

Im not sure....Good question though.