[USMA:37159] RE: metric road signs

[Mike Millet]

I agree that it's sad that that one action set back the metrication effort. I think a lot of it will hinge on this next election and getting members of Congress and the Presidency (Be it Republican or Democrat) to realize that metrication is an issue that is important to all of us and vital to the United State's continued economic growth and competitiveness in a world market.

Possibly the only comforting thing that could come out of this is that all the inch foot pound measures are based off exact SI equivalents so assuming the mile measures were consistent and accurate someone could theoretically  go into google and type "1 mile=?km" to do the road conversions :). I grant that it takes more than that but it could be done.

Google is awfully handy for unit conversions because it goes several decimal places out and will do almost any unit conversion you can think of including miles to kilometers feet to meters miles per gallon to liters per 100km and many others. It's been a great help for me whenever I'm watching the History channel and it spits out odd foot measurements because I can go convert  those to fairly rational metric measures.

On 7/26/06, Carleton MacDonald <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

This was back in 1998 or so.  He wrote something into one of the TEA-21 bills (transportation bill) removing the 2000 deadline for metrication in state highway construction (in order to keep federal funding).  The state highway departments all immediately thought "we don't have to convert" or, for those who did, "we can revert."  Since they didn't revert all at once the only thing I can think of is that the contractors decided to pick off the legislatures one at a time in a concerted effort.  That they could get to California is shameful.

 

I forget his name, but I think he was from Georgia or somewhere near – and definitely a Republican.

 

Carleton

 

---

From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto: [EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Mike Millet
Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 22:29

To: U.S. Metric Association

Subject: [USMA:37156] RE: metric road signs

 

Yeah I'm curious who this Congressman is. Maybe if we find out who we can politely"encourage" him to reconsider his position.

On 7/26/06, Pat Naughtin <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:

Dear Carleton,

Can you tell me the story of the

> ONE damn Congressman

Who was it and how did he do it?

Thanks and Cheers,

Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216
Geelong, Australia
61 3 5241 2008
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.metricationmatters.com


On 27/07/06 11:22 AM, "Carleton MacDonald" < [EMAIL PROTECTED] > wrote:

> How aggravating that ONE damn Congressman can cause such damage.
>
> How aggravating that the states are all sheep and listening to the pathetic
> blathering of the contractors.
>
> How aggravating that no one stood up to either.
>
> Carleton

--
"The boy is dangerous, they all sense it why can't you?"

--
"The boy is dangerous, they all sense it why can't you?"