2001-04-05
Is there a correlation between drives to go metric, such as in 1975, 1988,
1992 and recessions? It seems each time there was a push, we were in a
recession. All of a sudden exports become important as a means to boost
sales. But potential foreign customers bring up the metric issue and the
government puts it on the front burner.
Then, once the recession is over, and exporting comes second to domestic
sales, metric returns to the back burner. Some of the gains made are
abandoned, with the attitude, that since we aren't exporting, we don't need
metric now.
Since we are in a recession now, can we hope metric will return to the front
burner? Any opinions???
John
Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrt�mlich glaubt
frei zu sein.
There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they
are free!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nat Hager III" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Thursday, 2001-04-05 12:51
Subject: [USMA:12041] Re: Hewlett-Packard Ink Jet Cartridges & EU
> Sounds like entire history of US Metric conversion:
>
> 1. Government proposes rapid conversion in 1975.
>
> 2. 500 people out of entire country write in and whine.
>
> 3. Government takes "go-slow" approach, waiting for consensus.
>
> 4. Process drags out, overemphasis on SI-ifp conversions, SI viewed as
> "difficult".
>
> 5. Excuses begin to appear, ifp becomes source of national pride.
>
> 6. Where we are today.
>
> Nat
>
> >>>>>>>
> My guess as to what happened:
>
> 1. HP labeled cartridges in SI only.
>
> 2. Someone whined.
>
> 3. HP decided to put "(1.05 fl oz)" on, to stop the whining. At least it
> was in second place, and parenthetical -- the cartridge remains hard SI
(30
> mL).
>
> I would not have written to them if they hadn't gone retrograde on us.
> Haven't gotten a reply yet (except for the autoresponse along the lines
of:
> we got your e-mail and will answer soon.
>
> Carleton
>
>
> In a message dated Thu, 5 Apr 2001 10:28:10 AM Eastern Daylight Time, "Ma
> Be" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes:
>
> << On Thu, 5 Apr 2001 06:04:46
> CarletonM wrote:
> ..
> >Unfortunately, it's the other way around... The
> >older packaging, that said 30 mL only, was dark blue and had a May 2002
> date.
> > The newer packaging, that said 30 mL (1.01 fl oz), is white and yellow
and
> >has an August 2002 date. In other words, a retrograde maneuver by HP.
> >
> >Carleton
> >
> Dear Carleton, Han and Louis,
>
> I'll condense this into one. First the above.
>
> If it is true that HP is doing this they should be dennounced before the
> TABD and the EU as they're clearly backpedaling and not contributing to
> solve the problem, but rather making the situation worse!
>
> This would go to show what a bunch of hypocrites these Executives at HP
are!
> (And, BTW, I wouldn't mind writing them myself if someone can give me
> directions of the effective persons to contact)
>
> Second, the issue of lobbying the EU. I understand where Louis is coming
> from, therefore, why don't we approach the EU in a "consultative" mode,
i.e.
> why don't we make an inquiry with Mr. Pietrasanta, for instance, about if
> there is any mechanism that was setup by the committee responsible to
> oversee this issue to update this situation both with TABD and the US
> government. If there is we should then write them and inquire as to
what's
> going on (in the meantime, evidently, we should let Mr. Pietrasanta know
of
> what members of the TABD are doing! EU parliamentarians must know about
> this backstabbing by American organizations, to again reinforce to them
what
> TABD's true colors are!!!).
>
> Please let me know what you think and how we can best get this thing off
the
> ground. Let's please remember that pre-emptive strikes are better than to
> deal with remedial ones!!! ;-)
>
> Marcus
>
>
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>
> >>
>
