We are hoping that the progressive candidate will win the Florida electoral votes. We define the progressive candidate as the one who will support a concerted program to advance the use of SI in the United States. Such a progressive program will have to involve government at all levels: federal, state, county, municipal, and educational. It will have to involve all industries and all phases of commerce. We trust that we will not see again in 2010 the spectacle of the Trans- Atlantic Business Dialogue (TABD) demanding that the European Union (EU) extend once again the deadline permitting the use of British Imperial or American King George III Colonial units. We demand that the Federal Government stop justifying and defending the actions of American businesses who continue to insist upon using these antiquated units. By any measure, in 2001, we will be in the 21st century. Our congress had the courage in 1792 to adopt decimal currency and finally the stock markets are being compelled to use decimals in 2001. It is disgraceful that we have not embraced SI within these United States but rather cling to sixty-fourths, thirty-secondths, sixteenths, eighths, fourths, and halves. These fractions are an integral part of the distance, mass, and volume measures used in the King George III Colonial units. Every estimator or buyer I have known had a conversion table taped to his calculator showing the decimal equivalents of the fractions just stated. Surely you do not question that decimals are easier to use in a modern society. Decimalizing the use of miles-feet-inches, gallons-quarts-pints-fluid ounces, or pounds-ounces are insufficient responses because this action still leaves illogical non-decimal factors to convert within these groups. The only rational solution is to adopt and use in its entirety the International System of units (SI-metric) in which units increase decimally by tens, hundreds and thousands and in which units decrease by tenths, hundredths, and thousandths. It has been done by the other English-speaking countries and it is time to do it here. Sincerely, Norman Werling 1240 Hunters Drive Stone Mountain, GA 30083 404-292-9328
