very well said.
-----Original Message-----
From: c...@traditio.com
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2015 4:25 PM
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:54742] Interview for "Here and Now" NPR program
The problem I see is that we (USMA) still get bogged down way too much in
mathematical and technical and historical technicalities, which a mostly
science-ignorant population tunes out. In this interview, the practical
argument was relegated to the very last few seconds, after lots of talk
about abstruse (to the general public) metric units, Napoleon, and Roman
miles -- fascinating in themselves and encouraged by the interviewer, but
of no practical interest to the audience. I can just hear that audience
thinking: "That's why I don't like the metric system. It's too
confusing."
I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GET OFF THIS TRACK OF TRYING TO
PERSUADE PEOPLE THAT THE METRIC SYSTEM IS BETTER FOR LOGICAL REASONS.
PEOPLE ARE NOT INTERESTED IN THAT ARGUMENT.
Instead, we need to emphasize the ECONOMIC and FINANCIAL advantages of
completing the national conversion to metric. I say "completing," because
we are 50% converted already, and there is no going back. If we complete
the conversion, we become competitive worldwide and can take advantage of
billions of dollars of extra commerce.
But people don't realize that we are already 50% metric. One of the
revelations that has come to me during this recent discussion is that most
people don't recognize the metric system when they see it. When they buy
500 mg of aspirin, they don't know that the milligram is a metric unit.
When they buy a 2-liter Coke, they don't realize that the liter is a
metric unit. When they buy a 3500-lumen CFL, they don't realize that the
lumen is a metric unit. They "think metric" without knowing it. We
(USMA) really need to take this fact into account when we develop our
arguments.
People are not moved by philosophical arguments now. They are moved by
practical arguments. If you tell them that metric means a job for them or
a higher salary, they will convert overnight! Remember the motto:
"Metric Means Jobs and Money." --Martin Morrison, USMA Columnist
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