2002-03-14 People would have an understanding of metric sizes in a very short time, if they spent their time learning it instead of fighting it. If Peter Hitchens would spend his time learning and teaching others the metric system and how to get a feel for the sizes, then the "problems" he mentions would not happen now, would they?
But, people like Peter, feed fuel into the fire of rebellion and only exacerbate the problem. He only makes it harder on himself and people who follow him. Those that ignore his type and realise the reality is that all products are labelled mostly in metric alone in Britain, will learn the new ways and not have the problems he claims exists. Also, you might want to explain to him that down-sizing is very common in the US where metric is not used. But, then again, it will fall on a deaf ear and he will ignore it because it doesn't fit into his nonsense. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Duncan Bath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, 2002-03-14 13:23 Subject: [USMA:18763] Fw: Government Edicts > FYI > D. > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: Duncan Bath <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: March 14, 2002 07:25 > Subject: Re: Government Edicts > > > >The comparisons are not valid. There is no relation in logic between a > >rule of the road adopted for safety and a system of weights and measures > >adopted by decree because of political pressure. > > > >No safety issue is involved in running two weights and measures systems in > >parallel. We have done it here without so much as a single grazed knee > >resulting since the Metric system was legalised in (I think) 1880. > >Secondly, there is absolutely no reason why the two forms of currency could > >not have coexisted indefinitely(they did for about two years as I remember) > >EXCEPT that the inflation which decimalisation was partly designed to > >conceal would have swiftly wiped out the value of many of the older coins. > >I remember no deaths from that, either, or even frauds. I regret > >decimalisation (And Lord Halsey, whose report reluctantly recommended it, > >was privately opposed) but it was forced on us (again) because the > >government knew that EC membership was going to debauch the currency and > >that this would be painfully obvious with shillings and pence. Metrication, > >amongst other things, performs a similar function by abolishing familiar > >landmarks and so allowing packagers to confuse the public( look at the > >current size of jamjars and cans of food. Both used to be sold by the > >pound. Now they vary between 450 and 415 grams, measures most people have > >no feel for). A wonderful opportunity for pushing up prices or giving short > >measure, perfectly legally. How the supermarkets and the food moguls must > >love it. > > > > > >"Duncan Bath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > Words: > > > > > > ------------------------------------+------------------------------------ > > > > > > > > > > > >"Duncan Bath" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 10/03/2002 16:33:41 > >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >cc: (bcc: Peter Hitchens/News/TMOS/ANL) > >Subject Government Edicts > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >Just saw an exchange between you and one Pat Naughtin re govenment decreed > >measures. I am sure that your reasonable mind would wonder about the > >ensuing chaos in the marketplace if NO guidance were in place. Vendors > >could sell anything they wanted, any way they wanted to measure it. In our > >country, Canada, this would mean watching out for an undersized gallon > >(quart, pint etc.) and an oversized fluid ounce! > >What would your feeling be about the government staying out of the question > >of which side of the road to travel on? Which currency should prevail - > >decimal or non-decimal? > >Having someone else tell us what to do can be vexing; it can also be > >beneficial. > >Duncan > > > > > > > > > > >
