Thank you for responding to my note. We, in Canada, have been trying for decades to rid ourselves of that mixture of units we [many of us] grew up with (for me, it was in the midst of a sea of acres out east of Calgary, Alberta). One of our problems has been our proximity to the United States - many of them can't bring themselves to expend the effort required to adopt a SYSTEM of measures. Despite its size and importance, many in the U.S. have trouble realizing that its population is less than 5% of that of the world - a world that is, largely, SI. I detect a tendancy amongst some in the U.K. to demonize "Brussels" when the real 'enemy' is the rest of the world. Furthermore, "it is now a criminal offence to use imperial" strikes many as an over-reaction. I am sure that anyone who wishes to do so can build a table or a cupboard using feet, inches and fractions of an inch; anyone who wishes to can request (say) a pound of steak (the vendor will make the conversion to the equivalent SI quantity). The requirement that the marketplace be standardized is, surely, not undemocratic after all, two competing currencies would hardly be welcome in that same marketplace. We (Canadians and U.Kers.) are both in that never-never land somewhere between 'imperial' and SI. The name of the game is, surely, to minimize the costs and inconvenience required to complete the journey. Thanks again. Duncan From: JOHN WHITTAKER <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Duncan Bath <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Date: January 8, 2001 08:49 >Dear Mr.Bath > >Thanks for your comment. Just for the record, I agree with your >implied sentiment that metric units make more sense than imperial, and >actually use them myself. > >My objection is to the EU pronouncing that it is now a criminal >offence to use imperial. I don't believe the government or any other >authority should be involved. But the metrication directive is just one of >many thousands of directives that simply bypass our UK democratic >processes, and rather a trivial one. > >Probably it is not obvious in Canada how much Britain is now governed by >the EU, with defence, foreign policy and legal arrangements being the >latest areas to be integrated - and economic policy if Britain should be >so foolish as to join the euro. > >Kind regards >John Whittaker > >> >> Letter to THE TIMES, Dec 20: >> It was disappointing to see a member of the Economics Department of a >> University (a "Dr." at that) who is so negative re the world-standard, >> rational, SYSTEM of measures known as SI. >> I have to wonder whether this attitude would (if it could) support a return >> to ye olde pounds, shillings and pence currency? >> >> Duncan >> DT Bath, 861 Kensington Dr., Peterborough ON CANADA K9J 6J8 >> (705)743-4297 >from John Whittaker, Economics Department, Lancaster University, >Lancaster LA1 4YX, UK. > >[EMAIL PROTECTED]
