USMA: Going the Extra Kilometer For Metrication

EagleHasLanded writes "The U.S. Metric Association has been advocating for metrication since 1916 – without much success. In the mid-1970s, the U.S. government passed the Metric Conversion Act, but now it seems the time for complete conversion has come and gone. Or could U.S. educators and health & safety advocates put this issue back on Congress' radar screen?"

Comments

Re:What's the point?

[Anonymous Coward]

This isn't really that hard. I don't understand why dumb people whine about fractions all the time.

That's (((4*12)+7)*16)+3 = 883 16ths inches on that wall.
The window is ((((2*12)+8)*16)+6 = 518 16ths inches wide.
883-518 = 365 16ths of an inch of non-window wall space.
Since it's an odd number, we need to drop to 32nds, so that's 365*2 = 730 32nds inches.
Now do the division and simplify.
730/32 = 22 R26 = 22 13/16 inches on each side of the window.

It's not rocket science, and you'd have to do the same thing with metric, but with different unit multipliers.

There is nothing inherently "better" about metric. It's just a different type of arbitrary system. If you don't believe me, explain to me what a meter is and what defines it. Then try to tell me it's not arbitrary and crap with a straight face. Go ahead. I'll wait.

Because all other problems have now been solved

[kheldan]

Since we've obviously solved all other important problems here in the U.S. (there's full employment, the economy is booming, the rest of the world loves us like a long-lost brother, there is no crime to speak of here, everyone enjoys a high level of education, everyone is healthy and lives a long life due to easy access to inexpensive health care and medication, there is no corruption in our government, global warming is under control and environmental damage is being reversed and repaired, there is no hate, there is no greed, etc) then certainly we should take steps to unify the way the U.S. measures things. It's not like it'll upset everything and create confusion, certainly not! I'm sure everyone will willingly embrace it without reservation and overnight it'll all be done.