----- Original Message -----
From: "Carleton MacDonald" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, 2004-07-18 11:11
Subject: [USMA:30469] Ounces and Pounds
Foolish
> An article from the business section of The
Washington Post, July 18, 2004,
> followed by my response to her.
>
> Carleton
> followed by my response to her.
>
> Carleton
Here was my response:
2004-07-18
I read your article about "ounces and pounds foolish" and
have to answer with a big "How can this be a problem"?
We as a nation have chosen, often with anger over efforts
to change, the Fred Flintstone Units (FFU). We claim we do not want to go
metric because we "understand" FFU so well. Any effort to change us is
un-American.
So, if we understand FFU as well as we claim, they we
should have no problem comparing the price per ounce to the price per
pound. Or the price per quart to the price per gallon. That ability
should be inbred in us. So where does the problem lie?
Are you inferring that we really don't understand our
measurements as we claim to? It would seem so.
The only way out of this problem is to have all unit
pricing in either metres, litres or grams. Three simple units that
actually relate to each other uniformly. And with about a few hours of
training (not a lifetime plus it takes to understand FFU) one can be very
metric proficient.
But common logic will never rule and we as consumers will
keep paying the price for our ignorance, something the market strives
for.
Best Regards,
Euric
