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Amazingly, the ability to "fix the standard of weights and measures" is one of the enumerated powers of the Federal Government (specifically congress), meaning that deciding how we measure things is the governments job. See Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Under the necessary and proper clause, the Government can also do whatever is necessary to further such an enumerated power. Additioanlly, congress can fund whatever it wants, and additioanlly, withhold funding from those states if they don't do what they want.

So, legally, the power is there for any with the political will.

The problem is that virtually all of the best reasons to use metric don't apply to the US. We use metric in industry, science, the military, and in drug cartels. I love the metric system, but I'm not sure I really see the point in making everybody buy Kilos of bananas and meters of lumber.

If there are studies that show there's an economic benefit to switching on a national scale, I'd listen a lot harder. Personally, I'd imagine that industries (like the auto industry) that had incentive to switch did so. Purely internal industries (like construction) have zero incentive to switch.

I love standards, and I wish we would switch personally. Between the "why should we" camps and the "metric is another step towards a global government that will take my guns and make us watch soccer" tin hat folks, I think we're safe with our fulongs and pecks for a while.

Grignard wrote:I'm sure it would be a states rights thing. So yes, it might actually complicate things that way. The Federals would unfortunately have to step in. I dont know how that works legally.

It is a state's right thing. However, Congress has the power to regulate interstate trade. Congress could mandate it, but would have to pay for it. But then money rears its ugly head again.

Edit: That MOFO polonius beat me to it citing another one of those infernal federal powers. Curses! Foiled again! (shakes fist in air)


Some of us may be old enough to remember signs in miles and KM on them. It lasted about a week if I recall. It confused the pickup drivers who thought the higher KM was a license to drive really fast

I don't think that cost would be that much of an issue for companies.

They change a few numbers and letters on their labelling. Most products have their labeling updated every few years.

Govt would be much harder hit having to replace the distance markers on roads the first big slug that comes to mind.... employing thousands in the rust belt, restarting the US economy and ending the problems of all!!!

HUZZAH for the metric system!

Nah. The money for most road crews makes its was to Central America at this point.

They have a mi/km sign just outside of Chattanooga TN. I think it is the only one on that particular interstate

Now the key question to ask Griggy is, how many pellet holes does it have from drive by shotgun blasts

jfrazell wrote:Now the key question to ask Griggy is, how many pellet holes does it have from drive by shotgun blasts

Thats a good one. Not many actually. I dont think anyone else knows its even there.

As an American, I am pro-Metric. Their lead singer is hot!

it shouldn't actually cost that much if phased in correctly. Even working in a msall Uni here in the UK (which isn't the best in the world resources wise) equipment is rotated and updated on anything from a 3-10 year period. Any changes would be made at this time, for example we've moved over to a new software package, this is updated as pcs are changed in their normal cycle keeping costs to a minimum. This would work the same with road signs, the most important sign get updated every few years anyway and miles and km would be added gradually (works the same here with Wales - signs have names in Welsh and English). And although UK is considered 'metric' we still use miles, and if pubs start selling in anything other than pints and pounds I'm pretty sure they'd loose some major custom! And we still use lbs etc in the market, and many supermarkets still sell in pints and get around it legally by selling 1 pint and labeling it as .0000 litres as well or whatever it is. Metric is useful for some things obviously but the mundane day to day stuff has ways around it.

What I realy don't understand are the US 'cups' - I have many mugs, cups etc. the US cooking shows (yes i'm sad) give measurements in cups, and believe me it doesn't work! (i am too lazy to convert so my own fault but my mug is definatly not your cup)

also, aren't some states metric anyway? It may be my lack of knowledge of the US but I thought you were mixed anyway.....at least with regards to miles and kms. May just be me being ignorant, if so please excuse me.

No states are metric to my knowledge, and I've been around the country quite a bit.


You know, quite a few highways I've traveled on are speed limit 65. A rather shady thing to do for small townships looking to rake in some money would be to change them over to metric (100 km/hr = approx. 62 mph). Suddenly people are speeding and you have an instant money maker.

Here's a dumb question. I drive a Kia (Korean made) and it has Mph and Kph. Do all vehicles have this? Ford and Chevy are the first that come to mind that might not. However, since "American" cars are made in foreign countries and some "Foriegn" cars are made here in America I'm assuming all of them have it.

I think my Honda has them. But of course it has one of the highest domestic contents of any car sold in the US.

Buy American. Buy a Honda.

Every car I've ever owned has Mph and Kph. Foreign, domestic, doesn't matter.

a (old) but pretty humorous look at the imperial v metric argument

http://www.ofb.net/~jlm/oracle/oracle.365.10

Personally - I can't say that I care that much. Metric is way way easier for conversion of whole units, like converting between volume and mass. But in the real world unfortunately most of the things you measure aren't going to be whole units anyway so the difference doesn't become that great (you use a calculator for either).

I think this is mostly a case of inertia, but when you look at it, for costs/benefits:

Cost: we gotta change a bunch of signs. I drive 3mph slower on the freeway. Everyone has to find out how tall they are in meters.

Benefits: Instead of being made fun of us for the one time mars probe thing, we get patronized for finally accepting our mistake. People will be able to do simple volume/mass conversions in their head, provided it's for water. People who already learn the metric system in school when they're 10 won't freak out while in Europe. Companies who solved this problem a long time ago will get to throw away all of their US-centric label makers.

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:I don't think that cost would be that much of an issue for companies.

They change a few numbers and letters on their labelling. Most products have their labeling updated every few years.

You're right... most companies (especially in the food industry) already label dually. That's not really a huge financial concern.

Waaagh_Gonads wrote:Govt would be much harder hit having to replace the distance markers on roads the first big slug that comes to mind.... employing thousands in the rust belt, restarting the US economy and ending the problems of all!!!

Urm... Maybe you haven't been paying attention in your civics class, but America is suffering from a decaying infrastructure. We're not generating enough tax revenue devoted to repairing said infrastructure (roads, sewer, water treatment, etc.). In order for the U.S. to replace all the signs, mile markers, etc. for our transit system, it'd require a ~long term~ process. Five years isn't going to cut it. And in our current economy, raising taxes to pay for more gov't jobs (remember, independent contracts still use tax money, i.f. gov't jobs) doesn't seem like the wisest of courses.

Stormtrooper X wrote:Here's a dumb question. I drive a Kia (Korean made) and it has Mph and Kph. Do all vehicles have this? Ford and Chevy are the first that come to mind that might not. However, since "American" cars are made in foreign countries and some "Foriegn" cars are made here in America I'm assuming all of them have it.

I believe most of the major manufacturers have dual labeled speedometers now. This wasn't the case 10 years ago, and especially not 20. Since the 1990s, vehicles have been lasting much longer (300,000+ mi) without significant repairs. That means that non-metric vehicles will be on the road for a long time to come.

It's not simple enough to say "I have the proper speedometer and signs" for converting to metric. The transition to metric-only parts for the auto industry would take a good long time. And the costs of supporting older vehicles while providing for new vehicles poses a significant challenge (mitigated because I assume most foreign vehicles do operate on the metric, and therefore auto shops nowadays have already invested in the proper tools and repair equipment)

One of the things our coastal brethren tend to forget is how completely ingrained the imperial system is in the midwest. Everything is set up on a mile grid, and our land system is based on that mile, and the acre. Converting to a metric system makes for messy record keeping (and very costly record updates, as every local government register of deeds will have to spend hundreds of hours revising their system, notifying the landowners, etc.).

I like the metric system. I think it's bollocks to argue that you cannot visualize a kilometer as opposed to a mile. I love playing Battle Fleet Gothic. But the economic costs making the transition currently unattractive. Maybe if we had done it in the early 90s, it would've succeeded. But trying to transition during a burgeoning recession is crazier than trying to curb pollution in a depression (which, if I might add, I would rather we spend our limited resources doing!!!).

It's a great thought, and I hope it will happen in my lifetime, but I'm thinking it's going to be a long and costly road to travel.

I totally forgot about land titles. Jeez we already operate under a hodgepod RE structure handed down from William the Conqueror...How did the Brits do it?

Does anyone know what units they use in China?

Jazz is for Losers wrote:Does anyone know what units they use in China?

Their Tael is still in use, but it has been standardized to a metric value in grams. Also, the world over they still use all sorts of weird units in precious metals and gems. Troy ounces, carats, etc.

Another thing, is that even if the US goes metric, no one is going to come and force anyone to use metric in their daily lives. If they still want to think of things in miles when driving down the interstate, so be it. I often do. I would be a strong proponent of keeping imperial units in certain situations, like farmers markets, certain arts and crafts trades, and probably jewelers.

Grignard wrote:

Jazz is for Losers wrote:Does anyone know what units they use in China?

Their Tael is still in use, but it has been standardized to a metric value in grams. Also, the world over they still use all sorts of weird units in precious metals and gems. Troy ounces, carats, etc.

Another thing, is that even if the US goes metric, no one is going to come and force anyone to use metric in their daily lives. If they still want to think of things in miles when driving down the interstate, so be it. I often do. I would be a strong proponent of keeping imperial units in certain situations, like farmers markets, certain arts and crafts trades, and probably jewelers.

And for that matter, the fluid ounce you see on beverages in the US is the food labeling fluid oz, which is standardized to metric, and is not the same size as the imperial ounce or the US customary ounce. Which of course are all different than the avoirdupois mass unit "ounce". See how confusing this is??

Another thing....you know everyone assumes working scientists use metric. Organic chemists seem for some ungodly reason to persist in using calories. I lost more than a few points on tests doing Joule to kCal conversions.

Here is Aus, we only have KPH on our Speedometers.

You guys in the States need to get smart, and shop S-mart(Thanks Ash)

Do you guys still use 'Cubits' to measure boats? Did you get the relevant Data off Noah?

Stick a 'Yard' up your 'Furlong', and you are in a 'League' of your own.....

Go Metric.

PS I am 6 feet tall.(184Cms)

akira5665 wrote:Here is Aus, we only have KPH on our Speedometers.

You guys in the States need to get smart, and shop S-mart(Thanks Ash)

This is my THUNDERSTICK!

Jfrazell... it's BOOMstick

And you know, there are a lot of units of measure we don't use anymore... furlongs, leagues, stones, cubits (I'm glaring at you akira ), etc.

Course, I had to do some searching to find out what the heck a "stone" was; I'd heard it used on the BBC the other day in reference to weight... so I think it's clear that our relatives across the pond are still using even more archaic jargon than us poor ill-educated Americans.

The only odd and idiosyncratic measurements come in from farming--referring to everything in Rods and Acres, which are not readily legible to the outsider. Everything else has a fairly ready translation from imperial to metric.

Of course... going metric does make a bloke sound bigger

Nurglitch wrote:Two words: Metric time.

Is that like "Hammer Time?"

Go Metric! Go Metric! Go Metric! Go!
MC Metric on tha Mic!

Does the Metric Dance look like the Hammer Dance?

Eric

No, Metric Time has a 10/10 beat.

Nurglitch wrote:No, Metric Time has a 10/10 beat.

I do believe that was the funniest dang thing I've ever seen you say.

I literally LOLed on that one.

Eric