Paul: A lawyer would make mincemeat of your argument. If I pay you, in my house, with counterfeit currency, I am breaking the law. If, within my house, you and I agree that I will sell you a pound of something for an agreed price and we follow through with the transaction (using legal currency), no law is broken. Of course, that isn't trade in the open market, but I do think it highlights the difference between counterfeit currency and "not legal for trade" units of measure. One is both illegal and dishonest; the other is illegal but honest. Having said that, I'm just as much in favor of having all commercial trade in SI units as you are. As we've discussed here, at length, SI is much more consumer-friendly and consumer-protective. Bill Potts, CMS Roseville, CA http://metric1.org [SI Navigator] > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On > Behalf Of Paul Trusten > Sent: August 19, 2001 11:11 > To: U.S. Metric Association > Cc: U.S. Metric Association > Subject: [USMA:14957] Re: ENGLAND > > > It is interesting that there are different perceptions of measurement > and currency. If I am caught trying to use unlawful US currency > (counterfeit, let's say), I get the attention of the Secret Service PDQ. > But, when the day comes that the US rejects all but the International > System of Units as its standard of weights and measures, will an > American Thoburn come along who tries to persist in using pounds at his > butcher shop? and, if so, will it be perceived as unpopularly as > counterfeiting the currency, or will a tide of sentimental popular > support flow in? Perhaps it will not. All Americans know no other US > currency but the US dollar, but "Future Shock" may goad the people to > come to the aid of the Steven Thoburn of the United States---unless of > course, they will have been otherwise pre-inspired to appreciate the > virtues of the metric system. > > Just my two centidollars. > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > > >Re: England > > > >Steve Thoburn was convicted of weighing a pound of bananas on > 2001-04-09, and > >lodged his appeal the next day. His appeal is due to be heard on > 2001-11-19 and > >is scheduled to last five days. > > > >Two other tradesmen, John Dove (a fishmonger) and Julian Harman > (a fruitseller) > >were before the courts on 2001-06-13. I understand that both were also > >convicted (and presumably appealing their convictions). > > > >Interestingly enough, 33% of people have voted in favour of the > kilogram on > >Thoburn's own website (http://www.metricmartyrs.com). 3% it > seems don't care > >what system is used for weighing their bananas. > > > >Regards, > > > >Victor FitzPatrick > >================== > > > > -- > Paul Trusten, R.Ph. > 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122 > Midland TX 79707-2872 USA > (915)-694-6208 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > >
