2001-04-08
Isn't there an old saying that it is the darkest before the dawn? Who
knows, maybe this is our darkest hour?
The world is changing. The US economy is sliding downward. The US has
managed to piss off the Chinese. President Bush is showing his arrogance,
which is angering many people world-wide. Things aren't as rosy as they
were a few years ago.
Yet, at the same time, the EU is coming into its own. Its economy is doing
well. The Euro will be a real currency this time next year. The EU will
expand eastward in the next few years. The EU is gaining strength.
Johannes Rau, received a warm reception after his speech to the Strassburg
Parliament on greater European unity in the form of a federation.
The EU did the right thing by backing off for ten years on the labelling
issue. They will be in a stronger position to tell the US off if the US
doesn't comply in 2009. If the EU can and does stand up to the US and the
world follows the EU lead, you can rest assured the US will be metric
sooner than you think.
John
Keiner ist hoffnungsloser versklavt als derjenige, der irrtümlich glaubt
frei zu sein.
There are none more hopelessly enslaved then those who falsely believe they
re free!
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832)
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andy Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, 2001-04-01 21:38
Subject: [USMA:11990] Fwd: my realistic thoughts on metrication
> I have great respect for Paul Trusten (father of
> WOMBAT) who has pushed metrication for a long time. I
> don't think I have the knowledge or credentials or
> background or experience to challenge Paul. But I sure
> as hell hope that Paul is wrong as hell in his gloomy
> summary of the prospects for expeditious metrication.
>
> I am going to fret over his comments a bit and then
> I'll be back with something more to say.
>
> I hope that others will stew over his comments a bit
> and give us a bit more analysis.
>
> What are our goals?
> In the best case, what do we hope to achieve?
> In the worst case, when and what do we hope to do?
>
> What are the odds?
> What do you think is likely?
>
> Sincerely committed to metrication NOW,
> Andy Johnson
> --- Paul Trusten <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2001 16:13:14 -0500
> > From: Paul Trusten <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Reply-to: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Organization: @Home Network
> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Subject: [USMA:11988] my realistic thoughts on
> > metrication
> >
> > (In reply to that question offered from our Yahoo
> > group)
> >
> > Now, all of you know that I am pro-metric. I've
> > participated on this
> > mailing list for almost four years, and have been
> > involved with the
> > metrication issue since before the passage of the
> > 1975 MCA. Heck, I even
> > coined the term WOMBAT. But, I fear that, ceteris
> > paribus, the prospects
> > for quick US metrication have grown dim with the
> > passage of time.
> >
> > In the US, there has been increased anti-metric
> > zealotry, primarily
> > among those who see US metrication as contributing
> > to the arrival of the
> > anti-Christ ("the mark", no money passing without it
> > being recorded, the
> > New World Order, etc.). Softer versions of this
> > zealotry imply that the
> > US is giving in to world domination by adopting SI,
> > and this doctrine
> > tends to seep into the consciousness of the average
> > American. But also,
> > my own view of US metrication is that it will excite
> > what I (and author
> > Alvin Toffler) refer to as "Future Shock", a process
> > in which there are
> > too many changes in our daily lives with which we
> > are uncomfortable (one
> > bellweather for metrication is my Dad, who says, "I
> > couldn't be
> > bothered".) My number one ingredient for US
> > metrication has been that it
> > must be inspiring, and I see nothing among
> > present-day US society to
> > inspire this change.
> >
> > There is only one thing that will do it quickly---an
> > economic disaster.
> > If this economic disaster includes problems with US
> > global competition,
> > then metrication will become a top national
> > priority. It will be then
> > that the participants in this listserv can serve as
> > the first US Metric
> > Board, and breathlessly share its expertise with a
> > nervous government
> > and nervous CEOs. Gosh darn it, why the US
> > government and the industrial
> > captains don't see SI as a hedge against global
> > trouble NOW, baffles me.
> > I suppose T. Jefferson applies here: "Mankind are
> > more disposed to
> > suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right
> > themselves by
> > abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed."
> > (US Declaration of
> > Independence [from Britain], July 2, 1776).
> >
> > In a reasonably good economy,I do not see
> > metrication happening "now",
> > or "soon". By osmosis, it might happen in about 50
> > years, one mOsml at a
> > time. But, if we suddenly encounter a Rooseveltian
> > depression, then,
> > IMHO,US metrication will become a sacrament.
> > --
> > Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
> > 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122
> > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA
> > (915)-694-6208
> > [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> >
>
>
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