Is the US too lazy to learn the metric system?

Question

It's so much easier once the transition to metric is made, why not do it?

Answer 1

The U.S. is perfectly happy as it is.....you convert!!!

Answer 2

If metric is that much easier, wouldn't it be the more appealing system for lazy people?

Metric is less accurate too. In Fahrenheit, there are 180 calibrations between the freezing and boiling point of water. Celsius covers this same temperature difference with only 100 calibrations.

I still remember my Canadian friend lamenting the conversion to metric in his country...
"I don't know what the temperature outside is anymore. I don't know how far away my house is, or how much gas it will take to get there. I don't even know what a gallon of gas costs. I have no idea what my height is or how much I weigh. At least I can still tell the time."

Answer 3

It all has to do with economy. America kept the old way for economic gain, but not for long because we couldn't change the world on this one so we will be forced to change completely. The attitude of many in America has been that others should just deal with our measurement system. However, 95% of the world now lives in countries that are entirely or mostly metric. Worldwide use of the metric system has solidified even during America's reign as superpower. We simply are not able to impose our system on the rest of the world. Many other countries are recognizing this and they are taking steps to enforce metric usage in trade because metric units are the accepted international standards. Many of our trading partners require or soon will require all imports of commodities to be labeled in metric units only.

For example, it is against the law for a company to import a soft-drink bottle into Korea if it is labeled "20 FL OZ (591 mL)".2 It would be filled to 600 mL and be labeled in milliliters, no ounces allowed. Similar laws will apply in the European Union within a few years. Thus, a global soft-drink manufacturer needs two different product lines (with different product sizes) to maintain the U.S. measures in the United States. Some trade groups have complained that these laws are protectionist measures, but they simply require that the accepted standards be followed. U.S. companies are not penalized if they just comply. For this reason, many large U.S. companies have already converted their products to metric sizes, and many more will do so in the near future.

Answer 4

Americans HAVE converted to metric, they just don't know it.

Travel states near the Canadian border- distance markers are in both miles and kilometers. The US Military converted to the metric system in all things except those which deal directly with non-Metric system using countries, such as we buy "gallons" of gas, but Pepsi is in 2 Liter bottles. US Commands in Europe measure everything metric. It IS easy to do once it's IN PLACE. I grew up in New Hampshire in the 70s. We were all told back then how glorious converting over to metric would be, and how utterly necessary, as the rest of the world was going metric, if it hadnt already gone. I ALSO had to know how large an "acre" is, how long a "rod" is, etc. There are ever regional measurements which are even tougher to convert, having to go from rods to miles to kilometers, for example.

But no other culture or country on the planet is as heavily invested (infrastructure and industry) on Non-metric, or standard American measurements. At the time, it was thought the cost of converting all containers which now hold an even number of "ounces" or "gallons" to "decaliters" and "liters" would be cost prohibitive, not to mention all hundreds of thousands of signs on US freeways all showing distances in miles. We would have to replace all screws, nuts and bolts, etc., which used SAE measurements, a hundred years of research paperwork would have to be converted, history texts, all schoolbooks printed in the US, State, US and World maps would all have to be reprinted, etc. Gas pumps would need to be re-worked (a minor chore, but multiplied over millions of gas pumps means a huge price tag for a minimal financial return). Public poll after public poll in the US has always been more in favor of sticking with current measurements (people seem to feel more rooted to those measurements they grew up with. Everyone thinks they know what an ounce of something should weigh, (but usually don't).

Answer 5

When I was in elementary school ( in the70s) we were taught the metric system because supposedly we were going to convert to the metric system at some point.
It seems I remember seeing cars being made with speedometers marked in kilometers (maybe not but it sure seems that I remember that).
It would be much easier- i think the problem is the expense at this point everything is labeled in standard measure not metric.

Answer 6

The metric system is used in the scientific community.

I was taught the metric system in School. I don't really care if we use one or the other or both.

But it should be up to the company that sales the product and the consumers that buy the product to determine what system to use.

1 gallon is 1 gallon---everybody has a general understanding of the size and weight involved when you get a Gallon of milk. Or fill up your tank with Gas.

When you start saying 3.75 litres of Milk--or 220 litres to fill up you tank---now you just confuse people unnecessarily.

Answer 7

Yes, but we are working harder in the long run because the metric system is easier to learn than the English system.

Answer 8

We prefer our better system.

The Metric system has a problem with dividing things into thirds, sixths, twelths and 36ths.

1 inch = 1/36 yard.
3 inches = 1/12 yard

What is 1/12 of a meter?

What is 1/36 of a meter?

Answer 9

There was an attempt in the 70's to "go metric" but it didn't work. People like using the system they are familiar with.

Answer 10

Like it or not, it's happening. Look at a bottle of Jim Beam of Jack Daniels lately? It's sold by the mL, not by the pint or quart. This happened because of the demands of our global trading partners, not because the good old boys in Kentucky and Tennessee saw the metric light.

Answer 11

Most of the world is using metric system. Yes, the USA is too lazy.