Ask questions via twitter! Message any question to @answers on twitter. We'll publish the question and send you a reply each time there's a new answer.
My mother neglects her needs and health. How do I convince her to take care of herself?
Share A Conundrum Answer A Conundrum Where To Buy
Next Question

Answered Question

connected... connected...
 
January 06, 2009 05:03 AM

Why is America the only country that doesn't use the metric system?

Interesting Question?  Yes (0)   No (0)   
RSS
 
 

Best Answer  Chosen by Asker

jazz jazz
 
 January 06, 2009 06:11 AM
I found an interesting article about countries that use the metric system and when they adopted it. It's possible a couple of countries only use the metric system as widely as the U.S. does.
In fact, we HAVE tried to convert to metric -- at least, the government tried to convert us but, apparently, it was not well-implemented.
As a whole, Americans are stubborn folk, resistant to changes in tradition, so the most we have are dual measures (miles and kilometers per hour on your car's speedometer, or ounces and milliliters on a can of soda pop, for example).
Source(s):
http://lamar.colostate.edu/~hillger/internat.htm

http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Metric/lc1136a.cfm



Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip jazz for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
glaspell glaspell
 
January 14, 2009 07:20 AM
I wonder if the size of the country makes this more difficult to pull off?

Report
 
 

Other Answers (4)

Sort By
easyeboy easyeboy
 
January 06, 2009 05:42 AM
Quite simply, people do not like change! Change is costly, it takes time, and all of our measuring systems were not originally metric, so we are stuck with what we have. Measuring devices, all the distances, and equipment would have to change.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip easyeboy for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
answerman answerman
 
January 06, 2009 05:57 AM
Have you seen the level of anti-intellectualism rampant in the US?

Also, I think the Americans like to think of themselves as differentiated from European countries.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip answerman for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
jduvall jduvall
 
January 07, 2009 03:27 AM
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), "the U.S. has been increasing its use of metric units for many years, and the pace has accelerated in the past three decades"
Source(s):
http://ts.nist.gov/WeightsAndMeasures/Metric/lc1136a.cfm


Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip jduvall for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
albanian albanian
 
January 07, 2009 01:21 PM
People in most countries are suspicious of change. But most countries did change to metric. I think the reason the US is one of the last holdouts is because Americans do not like the government to get involved unless absolutely necessary. Changing to metric is something private industry would never do because it costs money short term. It has to be a government demand, and Americans don't like that. So, unless it becomes overwhelmingly necessary, or the change is done so slowly that no one notices, we get to keep our old English system.

Helpful Answer?  (0)   (0)    Tip albanian for this answer
Permalink | Report
   Reply  
 
 
redroo redroo
 
January 18, 2009 04:58 AM
Australia began it's transition to Metric in the 60s, when the government passed mandatory usage laws, and outlawed the use of imperial units in most instances. I would place metric usage now at 95% and the government has conceeded that this is good enough. As both a professional degree qualified and trade engineer I have been trained in both systems. In science and engineering my understanding is all but the simplest calculations (including the US) are done in metric. The units are simply converted at the beginnig and end of the calcs. This is because the imperial system was created before the physics between the mass, length, temperature and time all nead to work together. If engineers and scientists can convert so easily to a better parallel system using a simpler streamlined system based on 4 units (metre, kilogram, litre, celcius (K) and second, then it seems a small step for consumers to move to what the rest of the world is doing. In manufacturing I think you would be supprised by the amount of equipment that is already manufactured to metric specs. Ultimately when you are in a shop a packed size and feel will tell you how much you are getting. Per capita it is no worst than any other country sacrificed to go to a more valuable system. Hey all the european countries converted to a different currency to form the EU, (Australia did also when going decimal), so the USA already has a head start.

Report
 
 

Answer this Question

How tips and payments work

This question has already been resolved. You may add an answer to it but you will not be eligible to win best answer or any associated tips.

Related Questions

View All Education Questions

Ask a Question


140 characters left
Top of Page
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal

Top Members

This Week All Time
  • buddawiggi
    buddawiggi
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    25142 Points
    M$707.08 Earned
  • cfinke
    cfinke
    2nd Degree Black Belt
    23487 Points
    M$29.75 Earned
  • unwirklich
    unwirklich
    Purple Belt
    2428 Points
    M$132.05 Earned
   See All
 

Most Popular Tags

mahalo(1398)
twitter(923)
iphone(449)
music(435)
google(324)
food(290)
internet(283)
beer(267)
online(266)
money(246)
apple(239)
movies(235)
aotd(233)
facebook(228)
answers(203)
health(197)
video(194)
windows(190)
free(189)
dog(188)
   See All
 

Categories

Welcome New Members


 
 
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.

Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.

Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More

 
 

Please log in to use this function.

Answers Home | Ask a Question | Earn Points | How Tips Work | Widget



Share A Conundrum Answer A Conundrum Where To Buy