Why didn't the US ever switch to the metric system

Why didn't the US ever switch to the metric system
BorisVM	Why didn't the United States ever switch to the metric system? The metric system!? Where do you think you are -- some country that values logic? This is America, buddy. Home of hopelessly complex tax laws! Birthplace of the nonsensical Electoral College! For well over 200 years, thanks to tradition and good old-fashioned patriotic stubbornness, the U.S. has been doing things that make no sense. Well, that's not entirely true. The U.S. has used the metric system since 1866, when Congress first made it legal. While traditional units of measurement like gallons and inches remain the default for everyday use, the country's scientific and business communities are longtime supporters of all things metric. Readers might remember the government's attempts to bring the metric system to the masses. In 1975, Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act. Highway signs that once measured distances only in miles now listed distances in kilometers also. The Federal Highway Administration received thousands of complaints, so the project was soon abandoned. It seems you just can't teach an old motorist new tricks. These days, the U.S. is best described as a "soft metric" country, meaning it supports the metric system, but not exclusively. For example, buy a can of Coke and you'll notice it says "12 fluid ounces (355 mL)." Will America ever become a "hard metric" nation? Not bloody likely. Or to put it another way, when pigs fly at 100 mph (161 km/h).
Great_Macedonian	america's twisted. Gallons, inches even miles is harder than learning chinese.
OooOo	quote: Originally posted by Great_Macedonian america's twisted. Gallons, inches even miles is harder than learning chinese. Ne se slagam. Mnogu kratko vreme treba za da vlezesh u shema i posle toa mnogu raboti kje ti stanat logichni.
Great_Macedonian	mozebi... no gallons mi e najcudno od se.
mafisKumA	Australia adopted the International System of Units (SI) as its preferred (and legal) measuring method by passing The Weights and Measures Act 1960, and it formally 'went metric' from 1970. WEIGHT IMPERIAL METRIC 1/2oz ...... 14g 1oz ...... 28.35g 4ozs ...... 113.5g 8ozs ...... 227g 1Lb ...... 453.6g LENGTH IMPERIAL METRIC 1/16" ..... 1.5mm 1/8" ..... 3mm 1/4" ..... 6mm 1/2" ..... 1.25cm 3/4" ..... 1.9cm 1" ..... 2.54cm 3" ..... 7.5cm 6" ..... 15cm 9" ..... 23cm 1ft ..... 30.48cm 24" ..... 61cm 36" ..... 91.5cm Length Area 10 millimetres = 1 centimetre 100 sq. mm = 1 sq. cm 10 centimetres = 1 decimeter 10 000 sq. cm = 1 sq. metre 10 decimetres = 1 metre 100 sq. metres = 1 are 10 metres = 1 decametre 100 ares = 1 hectare 10 decametres = 1 hectometre 10 000 sq. metres = 1 hectare 10 hectometres = 1 kilometre 100 hectares = 1 sq. kilometre 1000 metres = 1 kilometre 1 000 000 sq. metres = 1 sq. kilometre Volume Capacity 1000 cu. mm = 1 cu. cm 10 millilitres = 1 centilitre 1000 cu. cm = 1 cu. decimetre 10 centilitree = 1 decilitre 1000 cu. dm = 1 cu. metre 10 decilitres = 1 litre 1 million cu. cm = 1 cu. metre 1000 litres = 1 cu. metre Mass 1000 grams = 1 kilogram 1000 kilograms = 1 tonne Length Area 12 inches = 1 foot 144 sq. inches = 1 square foot 3 feet = 1 yard 9 sq. feet = 1 square yard 22 yards = 1 chain 4840 sq. yards = 1 acre 10 chains = 1 furlong 640 acres = 1 square mile 8 furlongs = 1 mile 5280 feet = 1 mile 1760 yards = 1 mile Capacity 20 fluid ounces = 1 pint Volume 4 gills = 1 pint 1728 cu. inches = 1 cubic foot 2 pints = 1 quart 27 cu. feet = 1 cubic yard 4 quarts = 1 gallon (8 pints) Mass (Avoirdupois) 437.5 grains = 1 ounce Troy Weights 16 ounces = 1 pound (7000 grains) 24 grains = 1 pennyweight 14 pounds = 1 stone 20 pennyweights = 1 ounce (480 grains) 8 stones = 1 hundredweight [cwt] 12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains) 20 cwt = 1 ton (2240 pounds) Apothecaries' Measures Apothecaries' Weights 20 minims = 1 fl.scruple 20 grains = 1 scruple 3 fl.scruples = 1 fl.drachm 3 scruples = 1 drachm 8 fl.drachms = 1 fl.ounce 8 drachms = 1 ounce (480 grains) 20 fl.ounces = 1 pint 12 ounces = 1 pound (5760 grains) 1 yard = 0.9144 metres - same in US 1 pound = 0.453 592 37 kilograms - same in US 1 gallon = 4.546 09 litres - different in US To change into miles per gallon (UK) miles per gallon (US) multiply by 0.833 miles per gallon (UK) miles per litre multiply by 0.22 miles per litre miles per gallon (UK) multiply by 4.546 miles per gallon (UK) kilometres per litre multiply by 0.354 miles per gallon (US) miles per gallon (UK) multiply by 1.2 miles per gallon (US) miles per litre multiply by 0.2642 miles per litre miles per gallon (US) multiply by 3.785 miles per gallon (US) kilometres per litre multiply by 0.4251 X miles per gallon gallons per 100 miles: divide 100 by X (both gallons must of the same type) X miles per gallon (UK) litres per 100 km: divide 282.5 by X X miles per gallon (US) litres per 100 km: divide 235.2 by X X km per litre litres per 100 km: divide 100 by X X miles per litre litres per 100 km: divide 62.14 by X
dejan	hehehe pa na tie kebabi isto be:p
SydneyGuy	quote: Originally posted by dejan Kakva reklama napravi hehehe Prodavam doner kebabi Extra long A ti na shto misleshe? Sram da ti e
dada Sani	Na pocetokot koga dojdov vo Amerika barav logicno objasnuvanje zosto Amerika ne go koristi metrichkiot sistem i ne najdov takvo objasnuvanje. Go prifativ kako "inat" da se bide "speshl":) Vo 1916 god. e osnovana nevladina organizacija pod imeto U.S. Metric Association (USMA) so sediste vo Northridge, CA. Eve ja nivnata peticija Make the Metric System Standard In the USA To: Every American Citizen Metric (SI)- The universal measuring unit! We are living in a metric world where just about every country, except the USA, uses the metric system, and other countries are now telling us that they don't want to buy some of the products manufactured by U.S. companies if they aren't made to metric sizes (and if they aren't labeled in metric units). Many European Union (EU) countries, which have been good customers of U.S. companies, don't allow products into their countries unless they are made to metric system standards. We must operate in the world marketplace, and we can't stay competitive if we don't provide metric goods. With 99% of the rest of the world using metric, there is no chance we can persuade them to use our inches and pounds. Modern technology is making this a smaller world where better communication is required. Just as English is the worldwide language of business, the metric system is the world's common language of measurement, and it is to the advantage of our industries, our government, and our consumers to adopt the world's measurement language: the SI version of the metric system. -USMA Sincerely, The Undersigned
SydneyGuy	9" ..... 23cm E sega znam kolku e dolg
dejan	Kakva reklama napravi hehehe
Angeldust	First we need to review the history: The Metric System was created in 1790 by the National Assembly of France who had the French Academy of Sciences create a simple and scientific standard system of weights and measures. By 1850 Greece and other countries in Eastern Europe had adapted the new units of measurement. In 1821 the US proposed a recommendation of conversion to the metric system but was turned down by Congress because at the time most US trade was with England and Canada, neither were metric. Conversion would have interfered with trade. In 1875 while the US was involved in world conventions a signed the Treaty of the Meter which set up the International Bureau of Weights and Measures, based in Paris, it still did not adopt the system. In the 1900's most US industries were opposed to a costly change in machinery and manufacturing methods. In 1975, the US Congress passed a bill that made the metric system the preferred system of weights and measures in military, pharmacies, Aeronautics (NASA) and mechanics who work on foreign made cars all adopted the metric system, US trade and commerce and agencies of the US government prefer the metric system for business related activities. US schools teach the metric system, however, public use of the metric system is limited. US businesses need to compete in the global market which is based on metric system. All US cars are designed to metric spec. including kilometers per hr/speedometers and millimeter wrenches. In my opinion: We are living in a rapidly changing world. Technology is advancing at an astronomical rate! The world may someday have an international currency all done in cyberspace and adapt an international unit of measure that is more advanced than what we know of now.
Angeldust	zdravo, I guess I got the last word on this one! Thanks! Any questions class?