It's interesting to note that the anti-metric lobby always founds their arguments against the metric system on freedom. If it really were a question of freedom, then I should be "free" to buy gasoline by the liter or mail correspondence by the gram. Indeed, by their arguments we should be "free" to buy gasoline by the firkin, or measure mail by shaftments and pennyweights. But we are NOT free to do so; practically speaking measurement has not been "free" for centuries.
Then they move on the democracy. Their version of democracy, where each individual issue is to be determined by polling people randomly in the street, does not and should not exist. I live in a democratic republic. At least in the U.S., our democratically ratified constitution, the living will of the people, gives our democratically elected representatives the power to regulate weights and measures. John On Monday 13 October 2003 11:07, Han Maenen wrote: > I have been following the Letters to the Editor pages in the Irish Times, > but no one has sent a letter about road metrication. I am certain that if > this decision had been made in Britain, many pro and contra metric people > would have reacted. > > That is what the IAML says: > > "Forced metrication is unnecessary, unwanted and undemocratic. Our > traditional measurements are well understood and perfectly appropriate for > day-to-day life. They do not need to be replaced in shops, on road signs > etc. Indeed, in so doing, our government is effectively cutting a vast > proportion of our population off from any real understanding of > measurement. Disenfranchising them from their right to measure. Most people > do not want the metric system. Take a survey yourself on the street. You'll > see what we mean. Worst of all, metrication has been foisted on us with out > the opinion of the Irish people being asked. In our country, where in > recent history, we have had to fight to be heard, this is blatant arrogance > on behalf of the government and shameful complacency on behalf of the > people at large. For more information, contact us at our e-mail address > below." > > The URL is http://www.angelfire.com/ok4/iaml/ > e-mail address IAML: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Han > Historian of Dutch Metrication, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
