WHY DON'T we use the metric system in the US?

Question

why do we have to be so different?

I think most of you missed the point of my question...
I'm not asking why we don't convert-

I'm asking what prompted us to start using a different type of measurement system in the first place. Did this start when the pilgrims landed in Plymouth? Did THEY switch over and create a new system?

Answer 1

Tradition... we learned feet, inches, lbs, etc. When we think about how far someplace is, we have a sense in our mind of how far that is. When you throw in a new measurement system (no matter what it is), you completely lose a reference point. So it is actually easier to use our current system than to learn a new system.

Also, how many women want to know how many kilos they are.. :~o

Answer 2

It could be because you don't want to join the rest of the world

OK then. Actually 'you' took British measurements over to America and have been using them ever since. Probably because the US is so big, and doesn't have many close neighbours, there was never the need to change. Europe (largely) went metric a good number of years ago, 50 or 100. Britain took longer, partly because she is an island so there is a physical barrier around the country, and partly because Britain, as the former ruler of the largest empire the world has ever seen, could get by very happily without changing to metric, rather like the US today.

Answer 3

No one has given us a reason to change. The system we use we brought with us from Britain. The metric system was invented by the French (yech!) long after the US was a going concern.

The US had the highest average standard of living in the world by 1740 and a self supporting market by 1770. We only needed the French to help us deal with Britain in 1776.

Answer 4

No-one likes change. Other countries that did change did so because they deal more with countries already using metric. Its also too disruptive and expensive to simply switch from one system on one day to another the next day.

Since the US is quite big and much dealings going on within the countries boundaries there is not the pressure to change as quickly. It is happening slowly with international companies operating within the US and more dealing outside the US.

Answer 5

Couple of reasons. The cost to convert all the equipment we use to measure, weigh and etc. Reeducating people to think in metric. We can't get most of them to learn the Imperial system.

Answer 6

There is no basic advantage for the American people to demand that the US change to metric.

As a famous writer once said, "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Or if you like, "A liter by another name is still .2642 gallons."

Answer 7

I use it all the time. I work as a wildlife biologist and ALL we use is the metric system. Not sure why most of the US does not use it..it is much easier.

Answer 8

Metrics are used in science. There would be alot of changes in industry to change. It was actually approved while Thomas Jefferson was president. Funds were cut for education during Reagan.

Answer 9

I prefer to think of us as individualistic!