Jim, Then please explain to me how a Dutch trader who uses ifp units to sell to Dutch people should be convinced to stop doing that, if fining is inadmissible. There is no room for ifp here, it becomes a case of defending the metric system, traders know that they must not use Imperial or USC as the law says so, and if they try to introduce it, then I am in favour of the government stopping them. The only reason why a Dutch merchant would attempt to bring in USC is to cause confusion and to make it difficult for his customers to compare prices and sizes, or even to downright cheat them. Warn them first, then fine them. That is what I think. And even more when they use the pound avoirdupois and sell it for the price of 500 g. That is cheating, and nobody can be opposed to fining such merchants.
You are right about that aspect of American culture. Apart from this difference, we are full democracies. I hope that you will succeed in metricating the USA the way you favour, but I know, that in most other countries it did not work, France being the supreme example, where metric had to be imposed on trade by a severe law, 40 years after metrication had started. I also would rather favour your way, but what if it does not work? Anyway, I can still go to a shop and ask for a pound of cheese, 3 ounces of cold cuts and 4 ounces of sweets and no policeman or inspector will prosecute me. And as long as these are our own (metricated) ounces and pounds I have no objection when a trader uses them, and BTW, this is tolerated by the authorities here. Han ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Elwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, 2002-10-08 15:44 Subject: [USMA:22537] Re: Mandatory conversion? > At 09:54 PM 7 October 2002 +0200, Han Maenen wrote: > >I did not mean ifp but the American political system, legislation and 'freedom to measure', always giving in to the first whiff of resistance. I cannot support this type of democracy. > ... > > But if some trader in The Netherlands or any other metric country starts to sell goods by the pound avoirdupois, the gallon or the yard, I want to see him exposed and fined, (not as severely as in the UK), not jailed. And I would boycott him. If that is 'undemocratic', that is just too bad. > > I am not sure what you mean by "this kind of democracy." Our political systems are structured a bit differently, but in the end (as far as I am aware) we both elect major officials through voting, and lots of minor ones get appointed. > > I suspect what you dislike about American "democracy" is more related to American culture than the specific structure of our political system. Just my opinion. > > Boycotting someone or a company because you don't like the way they sell products is very much part of the free market, and not related to "democracy." And I would do exactly the same. > > Of course, I cannot agree with you on government sanctions (fines). > > > > Jim Elwell, CAMS > Electrical Engineer > Industrial manufacturing manager > Salt Lake City, Utah, USA > www.qsicorp.com
