Alan, I can't help you in your request, but I'm sure members of the USMA forum can. I don't know why you sent me this in a private message since it has mass appeal, so I am forwarding it on to the USMA to see if someone there can provide an answer.
Jerry ________________________________ From: Al Lawrence <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, February 28, 2009 6:42:20 PM Subject: RE: true metrification is systemic A logical systematic approach won't work, but a stealth approach can. Already lots of products are sold in metric units and metric containers (most bottled water, some soda, mouthwash and shampoo, for example). If the metric-only labeling option amendment can be passed more of that will be done, and maybe products like the two liter soda bottle and water bottles will only be labeled in liters. Everyone knows what a two liter bottle is and almost no one knows how many pints quarts or gallons that is. Changing road signs and public education programs will just turn people off, but labels on supermarket products can be changed gradually without upsetting anyone and eventually everyone will know what a gram, kg and liter is. Then additional changes can be considered. I am looking for a group that is trying to promote that, but does NOT waste time talking about road signs, education programs or metric conversion programs. All those things are nonproductive at this point, and might even be counterproductive. Just change supermarket labels first and don't scare people with that other stuff. Alan Lawrence ________________________________ Date: Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:30:11 -0800 From: [email protected] Subject: Re: true metrification is systemic To: [email protected] Yes, it seems like we can't handle a systematic approach to anything we attempt. I just hope in the long term we don't end up on the bottom looking up. Jerry ________________________________ From: Al Lawrence <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2009 7:37:54 PM Subject: Re: true metrification is systemic While a systemic approach is undoubtedly the correct and logical way to convert to the metric system pushing for changing road signs, changing package sizes to round units, selling gas in liters and so on is not a good idea for the US. That would just play into the hands of the anti-metric people who can then rant about costs and confusion and inconvenience and get their Congressmen to vote against anything metric. Australia was committed to conversion and did it right, but anyone who has traveled abroad knows how provincial Americans can be. We will not have that kind of commitment in the US. The government can’t even get Americans to convert their on-air TV’s to digital after 18 months of advertising, public service announcements and government mailings of coupons. Just get the metric-only option labeling amendment through. Don’t cause public panic by talking about changing road signs and package sizes. Metric labeling has to be common before there is any hope of making any significant progress. Alan Lawrence ________________________________ Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. Check it out. ________________________________ Hotmail® is up to 70% faster. Now good news travels really fast. Find out more.
