Johnathan McClure wrote:
>
> Isn't there already a law that says the government should procure things in
> metric whenever possible?
>
> >
> > 3) Have the government do all its procurement in the metric system
> > wherever possible. Order all paper-pushing agencies to switch to A4.
A4 paper is no more or less metric than US Letter paper, except in its
underlying design origins. When I set A4 in my StarOffice 6.0, I am
formatting paper that is 210 mm by 297 mm. When I set US Letter in my
StarOffice 6.0, I am formatting paper that is 215.9 mm by 279.4 mm.
Paper sizes can easily vary by as much as a millimeter in either
direction from one manufacturer to another (likewise a millimeter plus
or minus due to humidity changes!), so we can just as easily call US
Letter paper 216 mm by 279 mm. Or, even, 215 mm by 280 mm. If we used
the latter size specifications, U.S. companies would not have to go out
and buy new binders, folders, notebooks, filing cabinets, and bookcases.
And 215 mm by 280 mm sure seems to have a nice, rational metric ring to
it! In terms of street talk, it can be called "twenty-one and a half by
twenty-eight paper", if not U.S. Letter paper. Since this size is the
prevalent size up and down North and South America, it's sure to catch
on while sounding niftily metric.
> > Design all new tanks, fighter planes, and submarines in metric, and
> > have them use metric parts and tooling. This also goes for anything
> > the government sells.
The government is obligated by law to buy "off the shelf" unless
military or other specific needs dictate otherwise. The rationale behind
this law is to keep military expenditures smaller, by taking advantage
of cheaper prices. That's one of the reasons that our non-metric
airplane builders have been able to block metric design of military
aircraft.
The US Navy has an amphibious ship class that was designed and is being
built in metric. I'm hearing rumors of a new destroyer class, "DDX",
that is likewise being designed in metric units.
Jim
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, LCAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
10 Captiva Row e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Charleston, SC 29407 phone: 843.225.6789
