You're right, I should have mentioned the clause that allowed agencies to
dodge the rule, which was a major cause of that failure. The beauty of the
scenario in which an executive order changes road signs is that it's just
one thing in one federal agency. GHW Bush's executive order tried to
accomplish many things, with many parties involved, and many interests
opposing portions of it.
--------------------------------------------------
From: <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 9:12 AM
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:43034] Executive Order 12770
Executive Order 12770 of 1991 was not effective because it permitted heads
of Federal Agencies and Departments to evade metrication by asserting
difficulties.
Hopefully, a new Executive Order by President Obama will not allow easy
exceptions to metrication such as those practiced, for example, by the
Energy Information Agency.
But first, a new Secretary of Commerce must be confirmed before we can
expect a new Executive Order directing metrication of Federal programs.
---- Original message ----
Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2009 21:43:47 -0800
From: "Victor Jockin" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:43023] Re: More companies primed to pounce on metric-only
labeling
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
...
There is certainly precedent for this limited
approach: G.H.W. Bush's executive order for the
metrication of federal agencies.
That failed
because (a) the logistics and bureaucracy of
changing was far more complicated and multi-faceted
than just changing road signs, (b) opponents of
metrication hired lobbyists and proponents did
not, but most importantly his whole plan was flawed
because (c) they're little rocks. Bush thought the
government would tip the scales for the country, but
the department of the interior reporting quake data
in metric units or states contracting for road work
in metric units is not going to tip anything, or
change public language...
I'd love to see a coordinated, comprehensive
national initiative for change. It's by far the
best way for us to prevail, but also one of the
least likely.
