US Switch to Metric System?

'The Federal Eye' Ed O'Keefe answers a reader's question about U.S. efforts to switch to the metric system.

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News & Politics

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[Realfoxhawk]

Sadly aircraft built by US companies are still imperial. It is a pain for people fixing them. I grew up with parents who were raised in the imperial system. I am 100% metric by education and they are still 100% imperial, however without doubt this country is metric. The US will follow a similar trend. Once everything is posted either in metric or both schools will teach both systems for about five years, and then will start to drop the amount of imperial studied until eventually it is the no 1.

[mainchow10]

@rever65 Hahaha ok. I am actually giving you reason and you are the one abusive and sensitive. Every time someone FOR the metric system writes a comment, you write like 2 or 4 comments opposing. So your argument backfired.

[rever65]

@navylaks2 True, but I am referring to the units most commonly used in North America, which, with the exception of gallons, were virtually the same.

[navylaks2]

@rever65

The thing is there aren't just one type of pound or mile there are several, so you would actually have to be specific

[navylaks2]

Wouldn't it provide 1000s if not millions of jobs making the switch i see no reason not to. For your own good go metric

[rever65]

@Ascaithe I wouldn't exactly say the U.S. has "stagnated, never moved forward" (I assume that is the country you are referring to) They have been responsible for some of the most useful innovations that have ever benefited mankind, and all while remaining Imperial. Your arguments, along with most other "pro-metric" comments simply have no merit. By the way people (especially you chow) if you want to "thumb down" my comments, go ahead. Most people want to view "removed" comments. Curiosity.

[rever65]

@Ascaithe The irony is, I am not the one who is complacent, but you are. While I don't agree with metric in North America, and take issue with some Americans yearning to change (read my many previous comments), I don't believe anything should be forced on anyone, as was the case in Canada. You seem to. Metric was the answer to a question no one asked in Canada, because, again, they had NO problem with the old system. Maybe with age and wisdom you, and others, in time, will finally get it.

[rever65]

Rest assured people, if metric worked in Canada, I would be the first to promote it and give it just rewards, but it hasn't. Sorry to piss on the parade, Ascaithe, (and everyone else) but this isn't about conservatism, it's about being smart.

[rever65]

@Ascaithe Really? The only person opposed? Actually there have been a few, but I have been the only one so far that has given detailed, informative information on the changeover and why it would not be in the States interest to change. I have witnessed and experienced the "risk-taking" that our country (Canada) has taken and it has not worked. And how is measuring in Imperial an "impediment to progress"? Again, neither you or anyone else has answered my previous question. Re-read comments.

[travman305]

i think we should slowly start adopting the metric system. have kids in elementary learn and use it all throughout school, start making more products that use the metric system. then the kids that learned it in school might prefer metric over imperial. and want more products that use the metric system.

[Ascaithe]

@rever65 You seem to be the only person opposed to a metric changeover on here. Conservative, complacent, non-risk taking attitudes are one of the biggest impediments to progress. Yes there will be an initial investment- any big, sweeping, yet ultimately beneficial change requires some risk and investment (the very definition of investment)- or would you rather society just stagnated, never moving forward?

[mainchow10]

@eMathSpace Amen. Please USA, for the sake of the rest of the world, for the sake of yourselves, CHANGE NOW to a more simpler system and abandon the complicated imperial system (over 2,000 units in the customary system).