A libertarian strategy for promoting the metric system

[AL the Inconspicuous]

The reason the market hasn't adopted the metric system is because using decimal units with the english system is just as good.

No it's not, and it wouldn't be even if they got rid of inches, feet, miles, etc and just used centiyards, kiloyards, etc, because that's not what the rest of the world uses, creating arbitrary inconsistency.  And then you have the interrelatedness of units (did you miss fatcat's "BAM!" on the first page?), etc.

[trusten]

It has been said that, as a subject, metrology isn't something that requires passion, but both I and the author of this post have invested considerable passion in the subject.  Since 1974, I have been working to help establish the SI metric system as the United States' primary, everyday system of measurement.  For a standards-loving nation, one that will set a standard for candy bars and signposts, we are strange to continue postponing a standard that really matters.  Metrication will give us decimal measurement and the use of a common "language" that the rest of the world has long since adopted.  Also, fixing a true U.S. measurement standard is not socialistic. It is a power granted to the Congress by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.  Thus it is consistent with the visions set forth in the preamble of that document: to form a more perfect union and to promote the general welfare--welfare in the literal sense, that is, faring well as a Nation.

Successful metrication is not a product of coercion.  It is the result of the assent of all sectors of a society to make the change. All of us agree utterly to make the change, and then proceed to do so.  Australia's metrication plan is the best example of this assent:  setting a national goal, and getting to work on it.  Everybody measures things, so everyone has to be involved. 

Paul Trusten, R.Ph., Public Relations Director, U.S. Metric Association, Inc.  www.metric.org

[gibson042]

Also, fixing a true U.S. measurement standard is not socialistic. It is a power granted to the Congress by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

People really think like this? Hahahasob.

[AL the Inconspicuous]

It is socialistic in the sense that socialism is a scale, not a binary attribute; a direction, not a destination (especially since any society that comes anywhere close to socialism inevitably collapses).  All governments are socialist (communist, fascist, etc) to some degree, and that even applies to the ideal of the U.S. Constitution.  The intention of this thread was to find a way to encourage use of the metric system through consumer activism - 100% government-free!


PS:  only 3 people voted up this scoop so far (or some people also voted down)...

[Harry Tuttle]

You start a small nonprofit group to promote the metric system. Make sure you state clearly in your mission statement or incorporation papers and all marketing info that you support ONLY VOLUNTARY COMPLIANCE.

Then you promote yourself to news media and appeal to nerds with your same interests everywhere. Then, get some charismatic pitch man (or woman) to promote the idea to businesses that they should post the metric measurements on their products/packaging more prominently than US measurements. This might work best for those businesses when it can be used as a marketing gimmick to promote giving more for less.

Maybe you get a sexy actress to take up your cause.

You have to foster a grass roots movement.

Warning: as soon as you start getting government involved in pushing your agenda you will become my enemy.

[Alex Libman]

*BUMP*

Seriously, y'all.  The metric system is important.  Humanity must end the conversion headaches once and for all, and move forward with a unified and rational system of units.

So, I ask - what have YOU done to switch to the metric system?

[gibson042]

The metric system? Is that the antiquated collection of units derived from things like the planet's circumference and platinum-iridium artifacts? Call me when you've got a plan for switching to natural units.

[Alex Libman]

Planck units would be great for communicating with aliens, but are very complicated to institute for day-to-day human use, which is what we need right now.  They wouldn't result in any significant calculation productivity improvements, because computers can operate on human scale just fine.  Most people are too dumb to properly learn even one system of units, so please stop confusing them with alternatives.

[Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith)]

If you worked in science you would know that the metric system is already the standard, and that government intervention wasn't needed to make it so.

[Alex Libman]

Good.  What this thread is about is the libertarian position that is pro-metric-system and anti-government-force.  Ye old imperial system still dominates most consumer goods, and the purpose of this thread is to encourage libertarian manufacturers, store owners, etc to use metric instead.  Showing initiative on this matter would counteract the wide-spread belief that governmental imposition of standards is necessary to get things done.

[Sam Gunn (since nobody got Admiral Naismith)]

Good.  What this thread is about is the libertarian position that is pro-metric-system and anti-government-force.  Ye old imperial system still dominates most consumer goods, and the purpose of this thread is to encourage libertarian manufacturers, store owners, etc to use metric instead.  Showing initiative on this matter would counteract the wide-spread belief that governmental imposition of standards is necessary to get things done.

But who cares on common goods?  It really doesn't matter there, although common goods are still printed with both the metric and imperial units on them.