I apologize for the late reply, Mr. Trusten. I live in San Antonio, but will be attending UT Austin in August (actually going pre-pharm :).
I'll certainly keep that in mind; I just want to show some government representatives that there is genuine interest in metricating the nation. You're right; attempting to go metric without a comprehensive mandatory metrication plan will fail just like thirty/forty years ago. (I must admit, as bizarre as it sounds, I've created metrication PSAs and informational TV ads *mentally* in my free time as an outlet of creativity, simply because it's imperative that we have a well-thought-out public information campaign once we have a nationally-coordinated metrication plan.) Speaking of concentrating on popular support, I've convinced a few "the metric system is stupid" friends to go as purely metric as possible in their lives, as I have, and I think interest will grow. I'm in the process of teaching my little sister the metric system. I've taught her to ignore the USC on labels, told her that USC is overly complicated and given her no conversion factors to reinforce only the metric. After only one hour of teaching her the litre (with which she was already familiar), metre, kilogram, and the divisions, and multiples thereof, and reading a few labels with her—to familiarize her with the unit symbols—I found her reading all the metric values on every label in the house by herself! (She was actually in the pantry grabbing stuff off shelves when she should've been asleep!) She was puzzled by "m²", so I was able to teach her about area as well! Small steps, indeed; I'm optimistic. Zach Rodriguez http://twitter.com/#!/nativetexanzach On Thu, Jul 28, 2011 at 09:42, Paul Trusten <trus...@grandecom.net> wrote: > ** > Hi, Zach, > > Where in Texas are you? I live in Midland. > > The Web page of each member of Congress includes its USPS mailing address, > and I think you are quite write that a typed or handwritten letter is more > effective than an e-mail. My state senator in Texas makes it very clear > that he will only answer USPS letters. > > Please keep in mind, however, that U.S. metrication will only take place > when a full-fledged metrication plan is in place. True, enabling > legislation is important, but metrication is a major national project that > will require the involvement of every sector of American society: > governments, industries, the media, academia, and the people. Before it > reaches that stage, it has to become popular, and it has to have the backing > of national leadership in those sectors. I have actually concentrated more > on popular and industrial support for metric in my work with USMA. When we > have the people at large plus the industries, acts of Congress will follow > naturally. > > Thanks for posting on the e-mail list. > > SIncerely, > > Paul R. Trusten > Registered Pharmacist > Vice President and Public Relations Director > U.S. Metric Association, Inc. > www.metric.org > trus...@grandecom.net > +1(432)528-7724 > > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Zach Rodriguez <zachrrodrig...@gmail.com> > *To:* U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu> > *Sent:* 2011-07-27 22:39 > *Subject:* [USMA:50925] RE: Ditch the viss, govt urges traders > > I absolutely abhor fear-mongering being used as a political tool to get > what you want when what is said is false, but it does, for better or worse, > make people listen and repeat. Is this, focusing more on the consequences of > not completely metricating (which are true), the only way to actually get > through to a member of Congress whom would otherwise ignore repeated > inquiries and tales of the benefits? (Metrication deemed not important > enough "in the grand scheme of things affecting the country right now".) > > Predicting the nation's economic downfall, which metrication would help > prevent, in a time when the American and global economies are being focused > upon in the government, could potentially get the message across that we > need metric now, and we needed it yesterday. > > Of course, the nay-sayers would reply that it costs too much, to which we'd > reply it costs more to keep USC than it does to switch, many transitions are > virtually costless (such as changing weather reports, gas station signage) > and it wouldn't cost a thing today had we switched thirty/forty years ago > like we should have. "But we're unfamiliar with metric!" — Familiarity comes > with usage; it worked with the Australians, none of whom was formally > educated in metric prior to the transition from Imperial, not through merely > teaching, as can be seen here and, to an extent, in the UK. > > If the issue of metrication were to get through to a Congressperson, I hope > that it would not be framed by the opposition as a plot "to overthrow the > traditions, morals, and values of the American people", because that > reasoning is laughable, and, again, fear-mongering. My one major fear is > that our government representatives are too proud to mandate metrication, > much less ask for help doing so from other nations or the UN (which, I > think, would be glad to help). > > Still, if we spell out the consequences of not metricating, focusing on the > economy, add the overwhelming benefits, (and bring up historical examples of > metric in the US, like the 1902 bill that was defeated by a single vote, > share the experiences of other countries when they metricated), while appeal > to that same source of overly-patriotic pride by saying something along the > lines of: "If it's good enough for not only *the entire world*, the > American government [officially], the American military, American > scientists, American medicine, and American industries, [all which have > metricated more than the general public], then it's good enough for the > American public [while being superior to USC in every, single way]" to > Congress, then, perhaps, they just might see what we've been saying all > along, and, then, we could finally become an exclusively metric people. > Metrication has been brought up several times in Congress before, and it can > be again. It will happen; we've just got to keep prodding the government. > > > Zach Rodriguez > http://twitter.com/#!/nativetexanzach > > P.S. Does anyone know where I can get physical addresses to mail senators > and representatives letters? If I go through the government sites, all I > seem to get are contact forms that are delivered by email. I believe that, > if I went the email route, it would just get lumped in with everything else, > whereas, if I hand-write a letter and have it sent through USPS, although it > may take longer to get there, especially with security checks and whatnot, > it will stand out and perhaps give the issue of metrication more credence in > a sort of "I *really, really *care about this issue, therefore I > personally write you and want to pull on your heartstrings" kind of way. > > On Wed, Jul 27, 2011 at 19:45, Kilopascal <kilopas...@cox.net> wrote: > >> ** >> I don't see US metrication happening in my lifetime, until the US falls to >> the level of Zimbabwe and outsiders take over and make it happen. >> >> In the eyes of the world, the US is losing its significance. The fact >> that the US still uses units different than the nations experiencing growth >> won't have any effect on their growth and progress. The world will continue >> to grow using metric units and the US will continue to decline using USC. >> >> [USMA:50922] RE: Ditch the viss, govt urges traders >> >> Paul Trusten >> Mon, 25 Jul 2011 15:24:16 -0700 >> >> ...by working to achieve U.S. metrication first! Any prevalence of pre-metric >> units in the world has to be related to our continued use of them. >> >> Paul Trusten >> Midland, Texas >> United States+1(432)528-7724 >> trus...@grandecom.net >> >> >
