Somehow the word "carefully" (see below in red) needs to be defined so that it is not interpreted as meaning "take as much time as you want". Which could mean a conversion period of never.
I feel that there needs to be a time frame included. Those industries that don't need a lot of time should be given less time and those that need more time should have it given to them but not so long as it doesn't take more than 10 years to accomplish it. I can see gasoline pumps, grocery food scales and weather forecasting being done over night as most of the instruments used are already metric capable and the metric can be achieved with the switch of a switch. Metrication affecting the consumer should be done first so it is visible to all and makes everyone see that it is for real. Jerry ________________________________ From: John M. Steele <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, April 11, 2009 11:31:24 AM Subject: [USMA:44581] Re: cover letter of 1971 U.S. metric report That was so worthwhile that I submitted the image to my OCR software. I think I caught most of the errors. However, all the "bullet points" are a single level of long dashes, my OCR threw some artifacts on those. For anyone who has trouble viewing the image, converted body text follows: THE HONORABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE THE HONORABLE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SIRS:I --- On Sat, 4/11/09, Paul Trusten <[email protected]> wrote: Thousands of individuals, firms and organized groups, representative of our society, participated in the Study. After weighing the extensive evidence presented by these participants, this report concludes that the United States should change to the metric system through a coordinated national program. I agree with this conclusion, and therefore recommend —That the United States change to the International Metric System deliberately and carefully: * That this be done through a coordinated national program; * That the Congress assign the responsibility for guiding the change, and anticipating the kinds of special problems described in the report, to a central coordinating body responsive to all sectors of our society; —That within this guiding framework, detailed plans and timetables be worked out by these sectors themselves: * That early priority be given to educating every American schoolchild and the public at large to think in metric terms: * That immediate steps be taken by the Congress to foster U.S. participation in international standards activities; —That in order to encoutage efficiency and minimize the overall costs to society, the general rule should he that any changeover costs shall "lie where they fall"; —That the Congress, after deciding on a plan for the nation, establish a target date ten years ahead, by which time the U.S. will have become predominantly, though not exclusively, metric: * That there be a firma government commitment to this goal. The Department of Commerce stands ready to provide whatever further assistance the Congress may require in working out a national plan and putting it into effect. Respectfully submitted, Maurice H. Stans Secretary of Commerce From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]> Subject: [USMA:44571] cover letter of 1971 U.S. metric report To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> Date: Saturday, April 11, 2009, 3:23 AM The late Commerce Secretary Maurice Stans' words are, I believe, an excellent guide for the Nation to follow today (attached; may require magnification). Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Blvd. Apt. 122 Midland, Texas 79707-2872 US +1(432)528-7724 [email protected] have the honor to transmit to you the Report on the U.S. Metric Study, which was conducted by the National Bureau of Standards of the Department of Commerce.
