Excellent, well-argued, and respectful, Edward. Bravo! Paul Trusten, Reg. Pharmacist Vice President U.S. Metric Association, Inc. Midland, Texas USA www.metric.org +1(432)528-7724 [email protected]
On Jun 8, 2013, at 16:05, Edward Schlesinger <[email protected]> wrote: > > Here is a copy of my response to "Supporting American Choices on Measurement". > > 8/Jun/13 > > > > Patrick D. Gallagher > > 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1000 > > Gaithersburg, MD 20899-1000 > > > > Mr. Gallagher: > > > > I am writing in response to the petition I signed on We the People. These are > my thoughts on “Supporting American Choices on Measurement.” > > > > Your response sidesteps an important issue that the United States lacks in > trade, education, and sciences since we as a nation have not fully converted > to the International System of Units since the 1970s. > > > > If you state we are bilingual as a country, inferring that most citizens of > the United States have the same proficiency with USC and SI units, this > statement is false. Students are particularly confused especially if they > don’t go to college where the metric system is an integral part of the > sciences. One day, while I was at the grocery store, I saw a group of high > school students whose assignment was to bake a cake using metric units. I > overheard them discussing what container of milk to buy to have 6 cups of > milk but they didn’t know what that was in metric. I pointed out to them that > for liquid measures; there are 250 mL in a cup. After making that > calculation, they asked me how many milliliters are in a liter. If they knew > the metric system, would they have to ask that? > > > > I know that since the 1890s U.S. customary units are all defined in terms of > their metric equivalents. However, dual labeling does not help consumers or > industry become familiar with using metric units. My observation has been > consumers ignore metric units and figure price per oz. I understand that most > consumers do not comprehend gram weight on the nutritional value label even > though something as common as the one-cent piece is weighed in grams. > > > > The many countries that mandate the use of the metric system by law have had > an easier transition than the U.S. and our voluntary system. South Africa and > Australia come to mind as examples where the government put resources into > education and manufacturing for a quick and smooth transition. How much money > is wasted in building cost because the trades have not transitioned to > metric? Successful use of a system of weights and measures is an > all-or-nothing proposition. The so-called “choice” we have in this country, > is holding us back and making us out of step with most other nations. It > simply will not work in any meaningful way if I use customary units outside > my home and metric in my home. > > > > Sincerely, > > > > Edward B. Schlesinger > > > > Edward B. Schlesinger > > -- > Sincerely, > Edward B. > <my response to Patrick D.docx>
