A millimeter/meter convention is the ideal that I would like to see
implemented in the US, but unfortunately it would never "fly" here.
A parliamentary government like that in Australia has much more
latitude to act without direct public participation at every step.
("They elected our party, we've selected our Prime Minister, and we
will proceed with these programs. If the public doesn't like it, they
can change parties in the next election.") In the US congressional
system, the two parties share power and the President is elected
separately. Because of this power sharing and the constant deference
that Congress and the President give to public opinion, unpopular
things like metrication are seldom implemented at the federal level. I
do wish our leaders would actually lead more based on what would be
good for the country rather than just consult poll results to formulate
policy, but that is the nature of the US system. -- Jason
Yes, and a corollary of that system is that Congress listens to the whiners and complainers, and considers them representative of everyone because they're the only ones that speak up. No wonder nothing gets done in the USA.
Carleton
