Three Countries that Do Not Use the Metric System

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bluestream

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No Metric System

For the life of me I cant figure out why this has taken so long. Its inevitable so why the wait?

Why is the US, a global leader in so many sectors, not a member of the global system of measurements? At some point in the 1800s, the UK decided to change its system and eventually joined the rest of the civilized world in adopting the metric system. In 1927, the US congress was bombarded by millions of people sending petitions to adopt the metric system. However, the government turned a deaf ear to its citizens and favored a lobby by the manufacturing industry, citing the cost of the conversion.
 
Two insignificant but noteworthy inaccuracies in your link.
The U.S. neither a "global leader in so many sectors" nor home to much "manufacturing industry" these days.

In my business of science metric UoMs are universal.
 
So only those who use the metric system are civilized? LOL. Only to those that are full of themselves. We do just fine without it. It is fine in the scientific world but in day to day our current system works just fine.
 
My 9th grade physical science teacher made us learn Metric, stating that it would be the future, and that we would most likely be using it and nothing else from college on.

My 8th grade (middle school) English teacher said that we had to learn cursive, because all writing would be done in cursive in highschool.

My 7th grade business science teacher wouldn't let us touch the electronic type writers, because they were expensive, complicated and needed to last for well into the future for other 8th graders to use.

I started high school in the late 90's. Predicting the future is hard...
 
When I was a kid in the early 70s we started to switch, there were a few metric highway signs. Then it stopped and I don't know why. 10 of this equals 100 of that makes much more sense to me that 12 of this equals 1 of this and 5,280 of this equals one of that, etc.

John
 
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
No Metric System

For the life of me I cant figure out why this has taken so long. Its inevitable so why the wait?

Why is the US, a global leader in so many sectors, not a member of the global system of measurements? At some point in the 1800s, the UK decided to change its system and eventually joined the rest of the civilized world in adopting the metric system. In 1927, the US congress was bombarded by millions of people sending petitions to adopt the metric system. However, the government turned a deaf ear to its citizens and favored a lobby by the manufacturing industry, citing the cost of the conversion.


So? You're in Canada-why would you concern yourself with the unit of measurement that the United States (or any other country) chooses to use?
 
I am fond of the metric system and use it in international business, however, we here in the USA did put a man on the moon with old fashioned slide rules and thousands of 1/4-1/2 inch fasteners. Despite the rest of the world being metric, USA technical/mechanical engineering is well respected. When I go down to Ga. Tech and look at the student population..a very high percentage are from metric countries. It really doesn't matter that much.
 
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
Originally Posted By: Bluestream
No Metric System

For the life of me I cant figure out why this has taken so long. Its inevitable so why the wait?

Why is the US, a global leader in so many sectors, not a member of the global system of measurements? At some point in the 1800s, the UK decided to change its system and eventually joined the rest of the civilized world in adopting the metric system. In 1927, the US congress was bombarded by millions of people sending petitions to adopt the metric system. However, the government turned a deaf ear to its citizens and favored a lobby by the manufacturing industry, citing the cost of the conversion.


So? You're in Canada-why would you concern yourself with the unit of measurement that the United States (or any other country) chooses to use?


I don't really care...I just asked the question why the delay? As far as I know every car made in the US is metric. So why is the complete conversion so slow.
 
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I could care less what is used. But for cripes sakes, just pick one. I hate working on something and have to use a 13mm socket on this and a 3/4 socket on that.
 
Product quality can be just as good with the inch system as metric if you have skilled people doing assembly work.
That's where the problem lies, most of the street morons they allow to graduate high school today cant read precision measuring tools so manufacturers rely on automation and accept sloppy fits.
A monkey can read a "mike" in metric.

The inch system is an archaic out of date system that needs throwing out.
 
What's the fuss. Welfare does not use or need the metric system. And there's only one math function needed anymore. Mexicans must take a 50% cut with their EBT purchases when it's prohibited items like beer and cigarettes.

Others, many of the tax payers that are left use the same 50% on their income when they pay their taxes to the IRS.

The metric system is better suited for a nation that has not been "fundamentally transformed" or gone through "hope and change" and manufacturers something.
 
Originally Posted By: Srt20
I could care less what is used. But for cripes sakes, just pick one. I hate working on something and have to use a 13mm socket on this and a 3/4 socket on that.



Amen brother!
cheers3.gif
 
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
My 9th grade physical science teacher made us learn Metric, stating that it would be the future, and that we would most likely be using it and nothing else from college on.

My 8th grade (middle school) English teacher said that we had to learn cursive, because all writing would be done in cursive in highschool.

My 7th grade business science teacher wouldn't let us touch the electronic type writers, because they were expensive, complicated and needed to last for well into the future for other 8th graders to use.

I started high school in the late 90's. Predicting the future is hard...


My dad (now retired) used to work for a major bank. He dealt with all the company's equipment, and was basically known as the "Junk Guy". Among the most frequent things he did was repair typewriters. Everyone always told him he had the most secure job in the bank, because they would always have typewriters to be fixed.
 
There's no mention in that article that folks in the UK still follow speed signs posted in MPH and measure their body weight in stone.
 
Originally Posted By: Padawan
There's no mention in that article that folks in the UK still follow speed signs posted in MPH and measure their body weight in stone.


Whitworth spanners ftw!
 
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
My 9th grade physical science teacher made us learn Metric, stating that it would be the future, and that we would most likely be using it and nothing else from college on.

My 8th grade (middle school) English teacher said that we had to learn cursive, because all writing would be done in cursive in highschool.

My 7th grade business science teacher wouldn't let us touch the electronic type writers, because they were expensive, complicated and needed to last for well into the future for other 8th graders to use.

I started high school in the late 90's. Predicting the future is hard...


My dad (now retired) used to work for a major bank. He dealt with all the company's equipment, and was basically known as the "Junk Guy". Among the most frequent things he did was repair typewriters. Everyone always told him he had the most secure job in the bank, because they would always have typewriters to be fixed.
Didn't you hear? Typewriters are coming back.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/postevery...owden-to-thank/
 
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