Why Doesn't the U.S. Use the Metric System?
Why Doesn't the U.S. Use the Metric System?
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In 1793, noted French scientist Joseph Dombey departed Le Havre, France bound for Philadelphia. His mission was to meet with Thomas Jefferson and give him two of the rarest items on Earth. Unfortunately for Dombey, fate had other intentions and storms pushed the ship he was aboard well of course.
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Sources:
https://www.nist.gov/sites/default/files/documents/pml/wmd/metric/1136a.pdf
https://www.gao.gov/assets/230/221472.pdf
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/appendix/appendix-g.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_metric_system
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/space/stories/orbiter100199.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendenhall_Order#Official_recognition_of_the_metric_system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States
https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/articlei#section8
https://books.google.com/books?id=GXWfglKg11MC&pg=PA8&lpg=PA8&dq=1838+gallon+231+congress&source=bl&ots=82tA6DNriE&sig=XhntAr_x7bOGbZ5PaXQcOwllI0E&hl=en&sa=X&ei=NwueUOH6KYGc0QWrwYGoAg&ved=0CC8Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q&f=false
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/06/whos-afraid-of-the-metric-system/395057/
http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/1999/10/why_hasnt_the_us_gone_metric.html
http://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopted-the-metric-system.html
http://time.com/3633514/why-wont-america-go-metric/
http://time.com/3633514/why-wont-america-go-metric/
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/america-has-been-struggling-metric-system-almost-230-years-180964147/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fair_Packaging_and_Labeling_Act
http://www.us-metric.org/h-r-596-39th-congress/
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/06/whos-afraid-of-the-metric-system/395057/
https://www.cnn.com/2015/06/05/opinions/marciano-america-go-metric/index.html
https://www.popsci.com/why-hasnt-us-adopted-metric-system
https://nonpartisaneducation.org/Review/Essays/v3n3.htm
https://thefederalist.com/2019/02/06/metric-system-anti-human-central-planning/
https://thefederalist.com/2019/02/06/metric-system-anti-human-central-planning/
https://science.howstuffworks.com/why-us-not-on-metric-system.htm
http://www.bbcamerica.com/anglophenia/2014/05/should-america-adopt-metric-system
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States
https://www.nist.gov/blogs/taking-measure/pirates-caribbean-metric-edition
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_Act_of_1866
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metre_Convention
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_customary_units
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mendenhall_Order
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_New_York_(state)
https://www.businessinsider.com/california-economy-ranks-5th-in-the-world-beating-the-uk-2018-5
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Texas
There are two types of countries: Countries who use the metric system, and countries who have been to the moon.
How many miles from London to Glasgow?
The American system designed by ancient civilizations
As a Minnesotan 0F is where it starts getting real cold. Easier to grasp and remember than -18C.
Wait until they learn that in a lot of areas, we measure large distances in time.
I’m an American I use both methods all the time because I try to lower my fraction intake because I have to remember multiple measurements at a Time. So it’s close to or right on 97 cm then I’ll just put in my head didn’t want to make my next measurement because it lands right on or very close to 28th in. Young confusing but actually is a lot more efficient it’s like Spanglish for measurement
Oh, which tonne did you mean?
US? Imperial? or Metric?
The only reason the Americans won’t change to metric is because of songwriting, examples:
Vanessa Carlton – A Thousand Miles
If I could fall into the sky
Do you think time would pass me by?
Cause you know I’d walk a thousand *kilometers*
If I could just see you tonight
Celine Dion – Immortality
‘Cause I have found a dream that must come true
Every *kilogram* of me must see it through
But you are my only
I’m sorry I don’t have a role for love to play
Hand over my heart I’ll find my way
I will make them give to me
Dont want to switch, makes it easier to ship jobs over seas
U.S.- "Because change is, like…hard, man!"
We ignore the Metric System because we enjoy saying that our Automobile gets 54 Chains, 3 Rods to the Hogshead. (Give or take a Pottle)
Well thought out and argued, Simon!
I live in Australia so we use metric here. But my grandma taught me to sew. So I sew in inches thanks to my grandma because that’s what she uses. Also quilting supplies all use inches because americans. I also measure height in feet and inches and weights of babies. Everything else I use metric.
I’m Canadian and here our roads and speed limits are metric (kilometers). But if u ask someone their weight and height they’re going to give it to u in feet and inches, and pounds. Doctors record this info in metric, but ppl don’t use it. We didn’t start being taught metric until the mid 80’s when I was first entering school. As for temperature it’s reported in both Celcius and Fahrenheit and different ppl go by different metrics. I’m personally fluent in both metrics. As for homes/apartments etc, they’re referred to in square feet. My home is 1100 sq ft. Gas is sold in liters, and so is all liquids from milk to a cleaner in a spray bottle.
Fuck the metric system. Went to Canada 100kph sounds fast until you realize it’s just 60mph on a 4 lane highway. It’s embarrassing. Crank that shit up to 130kph then we can talk
Me buying tools or any machine in Europe: "Do you have something American?" Nope, they don’t export anything apart from beer. Problem solved – they would have to go through the process of converting these MCs to metric
I’ve seen the episode before but only on watching it this time did I realize it was made entirely to roast some asshole in the comments.
"This is not an american thing, this is a human thing."
It’s just that a lot of humans lives in america.
America uses miles, pounds, inches, feet, gallons and yards and we always will.
I am an American and after college I love the metric system it is easy to work with when compared.
I find the imperial system quite hilarious, who ever invented it was quite clever.
Makes a random measurement then calls it an inch, then looks at a random persons foot (a big one by the way) "oh look! I’ll call that measurement a foot!" Takes out a ruler to measure and the foot measured 12 inches. Looks at a very narrow yard, "Hey big foot dude! Come here and see how many of your feet it takes to measure across the yard" takes 3 tiny footsteps. "Ah ha!!! I call this a yard!" etc…
Those "idiot units" made the U.S. UNDEFEATED WORLD WAR (x2) CHAMPION!!!
How about we switch the fucking keyboards can we do that I understand why they were in a code in the first place due to typewriters jamming up but do we need that now do we really need that now
The US is the only nation to send men to the moon. Pierre can’t even get out of his grandmother’s basement. I rest my case.
The US still using imperial units, designed from the times of kings marrying their cousins, and actually derived from metric since a swedish engineer flooded the american market with steel probes of 2,54 cm exactly is an eternal source of entertainment to me
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pff… why do you need new signs? just add/change (put over) the existing
My American friend stated it this way: "There are 204 countries in the world that use the metric system, and one country that put a man on the moon."
We tried it for a few days in the 1970’s, said "Thats too hard!", and quit.
Wow you accidentally proved how useless government is i could build a highway sign for 2k in total including paying me
Canadian: That is 186 liters of diesel fuel. Me: How much is that in Yankee gallons? Canadian: 49.14 gallons, or about 3 beers, eh.
Xmas 1975. Mom buys Dad a new Craftsman tape measure from Sears. Dad was so mad at the tape measure. Grandad was totally disgusted with it. We used to go grab it during math home work as an aid. By 1980 our schools gave up on Metric. I remember mechanics that would remove a metric bolt from a car, and when it was time to reinstall the item, they would use a US standard bolt to put it back together. They all resented having to buy metric tools. Inching toward metric? No way! I’m metering toward US Standard !
Impossible even to this day as most Americans can’t count to 10 anyway. lol
I’ve long said the best way to get the US to go metric is as follows:
1 get the rest of the world to get onboard with ‘freedom’ measurement
2 switch the US to metric and get the world to follow (back)
Would have been completed WAY faster than our previous conversation efforts.
(Although replacing every mile marker, speed limit, exit number, property record / listing, speedometer, odometer, etc. is still indeed daunting.)
It would be a complete waste of time and money on road signs alone
Anyone else bothered by "DOT" instead of "Dee – Oh – Tee"?
But aviation though………..seriously 100+ years of SAE parts being standard world wide. America sets the standard for aviation, and per regulation all parts are SAE.
“Of all things the measure is Man, of the things that are, that they are, and of the things that are not, that they are not” – Protagoras
Amricans know and use both although in construction imperial or more commonly SAE are still the default generally now i work in a cabinet shop and do mill work and use imperial and metric on a daily basis
My argument is metric is better for “macro” measurements standard is better for “micro”. Metric is for measuring between us and mars, standard is for measuring a picture frame
America is embracing the metric system an inch at a time.
Being the same age as Simon, and American, we were taught both imperial, and metric. Teachers always said the switch was coming. Still hasn’t come. I can very easily convert over with the exception of mi/km. Everything else, as the video said, is already labeled.
*Niquez le gouvernement
Are you stupid? The US uses both systems, it’s the individual’s choice as to which they prefer.
This whole video is so dumb isn’t the world divided enough with everything going on without putting in how you measure things into the argument like oh yes ur so dumb for measuring differently lol 😂 grow up
I chortled at the thumbnail.
I am surprised that Americans don’t use metric. Surely telling people that your penis is 15 centimetres sounds better that 6 inches. That is the real reason why the British converted so readily. As an Australian, we use millimetres over centimetres. So I can say 50mm and seem ….. oh said too much….
Why do you care? How many "stone" do you weigh? You worry about brexit and we’ll worry about trump and miles.
After watching this again I have to say the reason we don’t use the metric system in our daily lives is because the rest of the world wants us to so desesperatly. Actually they think themselves superior because they do and look down upon those in the USA who don’t. Much like the tone of your original questioner. They don’t understand the individualism of our nature. They conform, we resist. It’s what makes America great, and the rest of the world less so.
I’m sorry your are wrong when it comes to measuring when cooking. NO one I know uses grams, for liters. Cups and ounces are still the most common way in the USA.
why Imperial equals as Freedom?