... if you are going to use the power of the law (i.e., the boys in
blue with the 13 round 9 mm guns strapped to their waists) to prevent
someone from using pounds and inches, you are infringing upon their
sovereignty.
But to a large extent this has already been done.
-- They can't use ounces when selling liquor and wine.
-- They can't measure sizes or distances in cubits.
-- Drugs can't be sold in minims and scruples.
-- You're not allowed to have a km-only speedometer.
How to measure is already regulated in commerce and law -- we're only talking about what specific units.
Remember, no one seems to have problems with metrication as long as it doesn't affect them directly -- who cares the size description of the cereal box, you just buy the big one or the small one anyway. The heartburn seems to come when we:
-- change the road signs, or
-- change how we weigh apples at the grocery store.
Carleton
