To the misc.metric-system newsgroup and its founders and administrators: As we in North America observe National Metric Week, I wish to thank you for continuing to maintain this vital newsgroup in the interests of metrication issues.
For more than 200 years, U.S. currency has been based upon the decimal system of numeration. I have always felt that my fellow U.S. citizens would not want to revert to the pounds, shillings, and pence of the "Mother Country," yet we continue to cling to an analogous system in our units of measurement. To focus on the importance of the decimal metric system, National Metric Week is set aside each October by the U.S. Metric Association (USMA), Inc. and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), the latter possessing both U.S. and Canadian representation. This week, I have written to all NCTM candidates for 2006 office, as well as a few key state weights-and-measures directors, to expand the influence of National Metric Week as much as possible where it will count. I have urged my fellow USMA members and other interested parties to write to their representatives in the U.S. Congress to urge them to support an amendment to the Fair Labeling and Packaging Act that would allow U.S. industry the option of labeling products in metric units only (current law requires dual customary-metric unit labeling). Finally, I have written to some industry leaders asking them to "finish the job" by extending their use of rounded metric-sized products across their entire product line. With the close of National Metric Week today, I thought I would turn to the word metrology community and remind you of the U.S. situation. In 1988, the U.S. Congress declared the metric system to be the "preferred system of measurement for trade and commerce" in this country. Yet, this nation, the one that went to the moon, championed the standardization of parts, and struggled against nature to build such wonders as the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, still stubbornly holds onto pre-Enlightenment units of measurement in trade, commerce, and daily living. I believe that it is measurement unbecoming of us. While I am not one U.S. citizen who is willing to copy any old practice followed by the rest of the world, the International System of Units is one that I have always thought was a great idea for my country---its universality, reproducibility, decimal basis, and coherent design should be benefits enjoyed by our people as much as it is in the world at large. I urge you, the world community of metrology, engineering, physics, government, and industry, to join me and my fellow USMA members to assertively support U.S. metrication at every opportunity. Speak about it often to your friends and associates in U.S. government and industry at ever possible venue: morning meeting, sales meeting, racquetball match, cocktail party, or dinner. You would not be meddling. You would be helping. Thank you for your interest and for this valuable Internet forum on metrication. SI-ncerely, Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Boulevard, Apt. 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 USA (432)528-7724 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
