> >Those who think the US is just going to roll over and go metric are very >sadly mistaken. They will do everything in their power to see that FFU not >only does not disappear from the world scene, but becomes the dominant >system worldwide. FFU is gaining more ground then it is losing and even >establishing footholds in many markets, relying on the apathy of people >towards measurement systems. While our members get a thrill over drips and >drops, FFU supporters are rejoicing over torrents. > >As I said before, until the EU becomes a viable world power, the diminishing >of FFU is only a dream among us supporters. As long as the US has control >and the dollar remains the currency of choice in the economy of the world, >FFU will spread it's influence like a cancer. > > > He's right. All you have to do is walk into a building supply or hardware store and see the thousands of items used in construction so realize that there will be no real progress toward SI in the good old USA until the federal government makes some real progress in mandating change. In ten years things will be pretty much the same, and the techies on this list will still be posting items about how many metric dingsbooms can fit on the head of a pin. This is fine, if you are interested, but it is not progress toward SI. And yes, American economic dominance does stifle metric use. The influence of US tourists in neighboring countries, like the Bahamas and Mexico, is a case in point.
I like the idea of putting kg on US drivers licenses. The feds could mandate this, as it affects interstate commerce, but they won't so long as the current administration is in power. The effects of NAFTA are apparent in every instruction manual packed with new equipment (everything from vacuum cleaners to power saws). They all are in English, French, and Spanish, and usually the last two are SI and the English part in in FFU (not always, but usually). This too is having no effect on metrication in the US. HARRY WYETH
