That subject line will get you going, eh? But, right now, anything that would be perceived as being imposed on the United States by a hostile world is anathema among the American people--sort of a violation of my first requirement for US metrication, that the American people be inspired to change. September 11 has brought disinspiration as to any new but overtly alien idea, even though we are still buying those liters of soda and liquor.
Look at how weakly SI has been applied to popular US consumer goods anyway---a few sizes in the soda industry, but not in soda cans; and sizes in the liquor industry which are more soft WOMBAT conversions than hard, new SI standard sizes. Then, there was TEA-21, an abandonment of metric by an administration that had a strong global inclination. America is choking on metrication, and even if we swallow it and begin to digest it in its present form, we're going to need a Zantac or two. So, it's time to re-cook this meal. My four components of US metrication remain: 1. INSPIRATION -- the American people need to know about the simplicity of the metric system: that it is a simple, decimal system of measurement that will make their lives much easier when used by itself, and make their nation more competitive in global trade when used by US business by itself. But,inspiration takes leadership. 2. EDUCATION -- the International System of Units must be taught as the first system of measurement in our nation's schools, starting at the grade at which numbers are first taught. It must also be taught to the adult public with the same rigor and enthusiasm with which we just taught everyone about anthrax. 3. RATIONAL application -- SI is a system of measurement, and ought to be applied only for the function of the society. International sports have adopted it, but American sports should decide this issue for themselves. 4. NATIONAL application -- only the Congress of the United States possesses the Constitutional authority to "fix the standard of weights and measures". Thus it could be inferred that TEA-21, an act of that Congress, could not legally omit a national mandate for metrication of highway construction in each state, but it did, due to weak leadership. There can be no metric states or non-metric states, no counties which use the mile and counties which use the kilometer. Like one currency, the United States can have only one system of measurement. I've been away from this list for awhile, and I just came back to see only discussions of torque, so I'm torqued off. I thought I'd throw this whole formula and thing in, and see who I myself can torque off. Thanks for reading. Paul Trusten, R.Ph. (USMA member, and proponent of US metrication since 1974) Midland, TX USA [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
