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Currently the U.S. is the only country in the world (other than Burma & Liberia) that have not yet converted to the Metric (International System of Units) other than for scientific use. It is also the only nation using degrees Fahrenheit on weather forecast and for daily use. Both Canada and Australia converted to the metric system completely in the 1970s.
The U.S. do however include metric units along with English/Imperial system on products and speedometers, and use only metric units on medication, nutrition facts, science and few other things such as some bottled soda.
Weather forecast (temperature), road signs, weight & measure, and daily speech is all in English/Imperial system still in the U.S.
Do you believe it is time for the U.S. government to pass a law converting to the Metric system?
(PS! There are some very old threads regards to this, but since now it is time for election, and years have passed by, maybe people changed their mind (?) - Also this is with poll included)
Long, Long overdue, they started down the path around 30 years ago then stopped. The english system is totally insane, probably created by the same person who invented golf.
It needs to be said that metrification is a requirement if you want to sell products overseas. Other nations will bar American products if they don't meet national technical requirements which require metric labeling and often fasteners. These nations include China, Japan, S. Korea, the EU, Britain (Britain gave up Imperial Units 40 years ago), Australia, Brazil, Canada and Mexico. Americans have a choice trade with the world or sit in their little nation and sulk.
Currently the U.S. is the only country in the world (other than Burma & Liberia) that have not yet converted to the Metric (International System of Units) other than for scientific use. It is also the only nation using degrees Fahrenheit on weather forecast and for daily use. Both Canada and Australia converted to the metric system completely in the 1970s.
The U.S. do however include metric units along with English/Imperial system on products and speedometers, and use only metric units on medication, nutrition facts, science and few other things such as some bottled soda.
Weather forecast (temperature), road signs, weight & measure, and daily speech is all in English/Imperial system still in the U.S.
Do you believe it is time for the U.S. government to pass a law converting to the Metric system?
(PS! There are some very old threads regards to this, but since now it is time for election, and years have passed by, maybe people changed their mind (?) - Also this is with poll included)
We probably should, but a sizable portion of the American population would protest such a move because on one day you convert to the metric system and on the next day the government takes control of all major sectors of the economy. In other words, a conversion to the metric system, most Americans would protest, would be another step toward socialism.
Yes, this is a sarcastic post to point out how stupid an awful lot of Americans are!
Yes it should be done but it takes more than 3 generations to get totally changed over. My kids were born in the 80s and 90s and they still use some imperial measurments. My oldest who is a scientist, MD would say if you asked him, I weigh 200 pounds and I'm 5ft9in in height . Other than that everything else would be metric. When he delivers a baby though the birth weight and length would be in Kg and Cm.
We still buy and sell a lot of things in Imperial. Land is usually quoted in acres, Home improvments are priced by the Sq. Ft. Landscaping, roofing, windows, etc. are always in Imperial.
So, after 40 years of being officially on the metric system we still use Imperial for some things. I asked my grandson how much he weighs the other day and he said, "90 pounds". That's the 3rd generation since we went metric!!! LOL
Converting to metric was tried in the mid 70's with gasoline in litres and speed limit signs and vehicle speedometers. It was a total failure. Only a few items are sold as metric system. A few that come to mind are bottles of wine .750 or 1.5 litre and 2 litre coke or pepsi, cocaine and marijuana.
A full conversion is something 300 million people would find difficult to do.
Ask an auto repair shop what it costs them every year to maintain two sets of tools for imperial and metric.
If you've been to Home Depot to buy plywood, you'll see both. i.e. 3/4" and 19mm
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