Lincoln Chafee: The US should convert to metric units

[lpetrich]

Here's Why Lincoln Chafee's Metric System Suggestion Actually Makes A Lot Of Sense

It's not for lack of effort by would-be reformers who would prefer the U.S. leave the so-called customary system of measurement and go metric. Back in the 19th century, former President Andrew Johnson signed into law a measure making use of the metric system lawful. In the 20th century, a pair of laws -- the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and the Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act of 1988 -- tried to speed the transition. In 1991, an executive order from then-President George H.W. Bush declared the metric system to be "the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce."

Most recently, a petition on We the People urging a shift to the metric system gathered almost 50,000 signatures.

Lincoln Chafee says Ronald Reagan talked about converting to the metric system | PolitiFact -- only half true

4 Reasons The US Shouldn't Switch To The Metric System | The Daily Caller -- I don't know if this is intended seriously.
1. All the Communist countries that use the metric system: all 5 remaining ones
2. All the Communist countries that don’t use the metric system: none
3. All the countries that don’t use the metric system, but don’t have the bald eagle as an official animal: Burma and Liberia
4. All the countries that don’t use the metric system, and DO have the bald eagle as an official animal: the US of course

No, America shouldn't go metric - CNN.com

The idea that we should change our daily system of weights and measures is certainly bold. However, Chafee's putting it forth as a kind of apology to the world for the last dozen years of U.S. international behavior -- rather than on the basis of how much it would cost the American people and what benefits it would bring them -- is staggeringly wrong-headed.

Then

And world heritage it certainly is: our customary measures encompass ways of measurement that date to pre-history and were in continuous use in every culture, everywhere prior to the metric system's global dominance.

Except that pre-metric measurement units were a cacophonous Babel, with every little place having its own values of units, and sometimes its own units. Check out Nicolas Pike's A New and Complete System of Arithmetick, published in 1822.

A move to the meter is not a vote for open-mindedness. That has been clear to me every time I have been scolded by a European or South American on the stupidity of a system that divides by twelfths and sixteenths rather than tenths.

We use base 10, so why not? Computers use base 2, but internally, and we make them accept and emit numbers in base-10 form for our convenience.

In a time when our world is becoming ever-more abstract and artificial, it is ever-more important that we keep a grip on what is essential and real.

Like how a mile is 5280 feet? Does anyone want to bring back ells or cubits or chains or furlongs?

Then some whining about cultural diversity. Sheesh. There's nothing that say that one can't use special units for this or that, as long as they are related to an overall system of units.

Our View: U.S. should embrace metric system - Opinion - The Bulletin - Norwich, CT

In a particularly stubborn and nonsensical expression of American exceptionalism, the United States stands as the only industrialized nation to use the convoluted English system of weights and measures and mostly shun metric.

Here, water freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit and boils at 212; 12 inches make a foot; and there are 5,280 feet in mile. In the rest of the world, water changes state at zero and 100 degrees (Celsius, of course); 100 centimeters make a meter; and there are 1,000 meters in a kilometer.

and

Clinging to the English system of weights and measures is not only harming the United States’ global standing, but also crippling students and engineers who must juggle two systems, one of which is incredibly unwieldy. In 1999, for example, NASA lost a $125 million Mars orbiter because of a unit mix-up between engineering groups.

Those who reject the metric system are miles behind Lincoln Chafee | Dave Bry | Comment is free | The Guardian

As Chafee pointed out, the United States is one of three countries in the entire world to eschew the metric system. The others? Liberia and Myanmar.

I support the new candidate’s efforts toward internationalism. I do think it’s symbolic of a better, healthier diplomatic stance and that American exceptionalism is a poisonous idea. It’s time we stop being a rogue nation in this regard. Let’s join the global family.

Chafee for president! If only for the easier math.

Lincoln Chafee’s presidential platform? Adopt the metric system, of course. - The Washington Post

Chafee, a Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat, gave a brief and chipper address that called for America to re-engage with "international community" with diplomacy and "symbolic" moves. That meant everything from barring campaign donors from becoming diplomats, to allowing Edward Snowden to come home without punishment, to bringing America into the Metric system.

"It doesn't take long to realize that 34 degrees is hot," joked Chafee, reminiscing about some time he spent in Canada.

Apparently Canada is a major inspiration for Chafee's call to end the absurdity that is the United States' -- what is it called again -- Standard system.

 Metrication

There are three common ways that nations convert from traditional measurement systems to the metric system. The first is the quick, or "Big-Bang" route which was used by India in the 1960s and several other nations including Australia and New Zealand since then. The second way is to phase in units over time and progressively outlaw traditional units. This method, favoured by some industrial nations, is slower and generally less complete. The third way is to redefine traditional units in metric terms. This has been used successfully where traditional units were ill-defined and had regional variations.

Compromise units like a "metric foot" of exactly 30 cm, a "metric pound" of exactly 500 g, etc. -- that's what France had for a while.

 

[Derec]

 

[Nexus]

We should adopt a base 12 number system and then standardize all measurements to 12 like the metric system has done with 10. Then we would have a clearly superior system and could ask the world why they prefer to use their archaic and less robust measurements.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Convert??? The world should see how right the Fahrenheit system is! Lets look at how we experience the various scales:

0F -- very cold. 100F -- very hot.

0C -- cold. 100C -- dead.

0K -- dead. 100K -- dead.

0R -- dead. 100R -- dead.

What's more useful??

 

[Nexus]

Fahrenheit might seem better in some ways because is uses a larger range. But that could be accomplished if celsius users regularly used a half degree. Fahrenheit users don't usually need that extra level of precision.

 

[fromderinside]

Fahrenheit might seem better in some ways because is uses a larger range. But that could be accomplished if celsius users regularly used a half degree. Fahrenheit users don't usually need that extra level of precision.

Using metrics for measure is a bit like using English for business. We should go with the one used by most people in the discipline.

The US is hanging on the edge of a functional precipice. Even the fathers of our language, the inventors of pms wink: ) system, use metrics.

 

[Derec]

Convert??? The world should see how right the Fahrenheit system is! Lets look at how we experience the various scales:

0F -- very cold. 100F -- very hot.

0C -- cold. 100C -- dead.

0K -- dead. 100K -- dead.

0R -- dead. 100R -- dead.

What's more useful??

So the only use of a temperature scale is weather? And you can only comprehend numbers between 0 and 100? Negative numbers too difficult for you?
And even for weather, having freezing temperatures be negative is very useful rather than the very random cutoff of 32°F. And yes, weather at 100°C is deadly, but "regular people" encounter high temperatures like that, for example when cooking. 100°C is seal level boiling point of water vs. 100°F being a random temperature that Fahrenheit chose.
As far as Kelvin, it is useful for science because it's an actual unit (there is no such thing as "degree Kelvin"), not a scale, so it can be used in thermodynamic equations. It is also useful in that a delta T of 1K = 1°C.

 

[laughing dog]

At this point in history, it is hard to take any POTUS candidate seriously when he or she opens his campaign with a call to move to the metric system.

 

[Bronzeage]

On the whole, Americans are some of the most math illiterate people. That should be "illmetricate." The English system's only advantage is familiarity. If we were fully metric and someone came in with this strange combination of inches divided into sixteenths, a foot divided into twelfths, and a yard divided buy thirds and thirty sixths, no one would look at it twice. Everyone would call it unworkable.

 

[fromderinside]

On the whole, Americans are some of the most math illiterate people. That should be "illmetricate." The English system's only advantage is familiarity. If we were fully metric and someone came in with this strange combination of inches divided into sixteenths, a foot divided into twelfths, and a yard divided buy thirds and thirty sixths, no one would look at it twice. Everyone would call it unworkable.

Then there's Newtons law of inertia. I think that trumps most any rational analysis when treated as a political 'law', don't you?

 

[crispy]

Convert??? The world should see how right the Fahrenheit system is! Lets look at how we experience the various scales:

0F -- very cold. 100F -- very hot.

0C -- cold. 100C -- dead.

0K -- dead. 100K -- dead.

0R -- dead. 100R -- dead.

What's more useful??

Celcius. Just this last week I needed some 40C water (for some baby food), which is easy to get if you take boiling water (not quite 100C) and tap water (10C) in 40:60. Add just a little extra cold water if you wanna be closer to 40C.

 

[fromderinside]

Convert??? The world should see how right the Fahrenheit system is! Lets look at how we experience the various scales:

0F -- very cold. 100F -- very hot.

0C -- cold. 100C -- dead.

0K -- dead. 100K -- dead.

0R -- dead. 100R -- dead.

What's more useful??

Celcius. Just this last week I needed some 40C water (for some baby food), which is easy to get if you take boiling water (not quite 100C) and tap water (10C) in 40:60. Add just a little extra cold water if you wanna be closer to 40C.

Oh no. Ratios!? The end is near!

 

[Bronzeage]

On the whole, Americans are some of the most math illiterate people. That should be "illmetricate." The English system's only advantage is familiarity. If we were fully metric and someone came in with this strange combination of inches divided into sixteenths, a foot divided into twelfths, and a yard divided buy thirds and thirty sixths, no one would look at it twice. Everyone would call it unworkable.

Then there's Newtons law of inertia. I think that trumps most any rational analysis when treated as a political 'law', don't you?

The US automotive industry was the first to embrace the metric system. In 1978, every car was supposed to be all metric, but there were some cute tricks. One of them was continuing the use of English thread sizes, but putting a metric wrench size head on the bolt. Another was designing bolts with wrench sizes which didn't exist. A 19mm wrench is a tiny fraction close to a 3/4inch wrench, but for some reason, GM changed all the 3/4 bolts to 18mm wrench size. The only 18mm wrench in tool catalogs was only 14 cm (5&1/2 in) long and cost $22. It was a special tool for some VW application. A year later, a more useful 26cm length wrench was available($4).

The English system, as it exists in America is well preserved antique. It is a little strange to walk into a hardware store and see a wall of tools which are designed to work on machinery that is more than 40 years old.

 

[fromderinside]

Then there's Newtons law of inertia. I think that trumps most any rational analysis when treated as a political 'law', don't you?

The US automotive industry was the first to embrace the metric system. In 1978, every car was supposed to be all metric, but there were some cute tricks. One of them was continuing the use of English thread sizes, but putting a metric wrench size head on the bolt. Another was designing bolts with wrench sizes which didn't exist. A 19mm wrench is a tiny fraction close to a 3/4inch wrench, but for some reason, GM changed all the 3/4 bolts to 18mm wrench size. The only 18mm wrench in tool catalogs was only 14 cm (5&1/2 in) long and cost $22. It was a special tool for some VW application. A year later, a more useful 26cm length wrench was available($4).

The English system, as it exists in America is well preserved antique. It is a little strange to walk into a hardware store and see a wall of tools which are designed to work on machinery that is more than 40 years old.

It isn't preserved its continued with a toss of a dime to those who think metric. Typical inertial response.
Appear to be changing direction but continue on to the same destination.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Convert??? The world should see how right the Fahrenheit system is! Lets look at how we experience the various scales:

0F -- very cold. 100F -- very hot.

0C -- cold. 100C -- dead.

0K -- dead. 100K -- dead.

0R -- dead. 100R -- dead.

What's more useful??

So the only use of a temperature scale is weather? And you can only comprehend numbers between 0 and 100? Negative numbers too difficult for you?
And even for weather, having freezing temperatures be negative is very useful rather than the very random cutoff of 32°F. And yes, weather at 100°C is deadly, but "regular people" encounter high temperatures like that, for example when cooking. 100°C is seal level boiling point of water vs. 100°F being a random temperature that Fahrenheit chose.
As far as Kelvin, it is useful for science because it's an actual unit (there is no such thing as "degree Kelvin"), not a scale, so it can be used in thermodynamic equations. It is also useful in that a delta T of 1K = 1°C.

You don't really think I was being serious, do you?

 

[Bronzeage]

The US automotive industry was the first to embrace the metric system. In 1978, every car was supposed to be all metric, but there were some cute tricks. One of them was continuing the use of English thread sizes, but putting a metric wrench size head on the bolt. Another was designing bolts with wrench sizes which didn't exist. A 19mm wrench is a tiny fraction close to a 3/4inch wrench, but for some reason, GM changed all the 3/4 bolts to 18mm wrench size. The only 18mm wrench in tool catalogs was only 14 cm (5&1/2 in) long and cost $22. It was a special tool for some VW application. A year later, a more useful 26cm length wrench was available($4).

The English system, as it exists in America is well preserved antique. It is a little strange to walk into a hardware store and see a wall of tools which are designed to work on machinery that is more than 40 years old.

It isn't preserved its continued with a toss of a dime to those who think metric. Typical inertial response.
Appear to be changing direction but continue on to the same destination.

Today's automobiles are completely metric system engineered. The international market dictates that. There are too many horror stories of mistaking English for metric or vice versa for a mixed system to survive. The most spectacular was the Mars probe in 1999. Since then, everything is designed in metric, and there's no thought of crossovers and conversions.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

So the only use of a temperature scale is weather? And you can only comprehend numbers between 0 and 100? Negative numbers too difficult for you?
And even for weather, having freezing temperatures be negative is very useful rather than the very random cutoff of 32°F. And yes, weather at 100°C is deadly, but "regular people" encounter high temperatures like that, for example when cooking. 100°C is seal level boiling point of water vs. 100°F being a random temperature that Fahrenheit chose.
As far as Kelvin, it is useful for science because it's an actual unit (there is no such thing as "degree Kelvin"), not a scale, so it can be used in thermodynamic equations. It is also useful in that a delta T of 1K = 1°C.

You don't really think I was being serious, do you?

Well the post was rather petulant... so um... yeah.

 

[SimpleDon]

It isn't preserved its continued with a toss of a dime to those who think metric. Typical inertial response.
Appear to be changing direction but continue on to the same destination.

Today's automobiles are completely metric system engineered. The international market dictates that. There are too many horror stories of mistaking English for metric or vice versa for a mixed system to survive. The most spectacular was the Mars probe in 1999. Since then, everything is designed in metric, and there's no thought of crossovers and conversions.

I was in heavy industrial plant construction. By the time I retired only the structural work was being done in standard measures, and we were slowly pulling them to metric. Structural shapes, "I" beams, channels, etcetera are in standard units but we routinely order them fabricated to metric lengths. The layouts and locations of equipment were in metric.

Since the U.S. Is slowly abandoning the industrial equipment business in favor of investing in pieces of paper like derivatives increasing numbers of such equipment comes from overseas, all in metric. Even structural shapes are increasingly imported.

 

[Nice Squirrel]

To suggest such an abomination, he is not only ineligible to become POTUS, his citizenship should be stripped and he should be deported to Reunion Island immediately!

 

[Bronzeage]

To suggest such an abomination, he is not only ineligible to become POTUS, his citizenship should be stripped and he should be deported to Reunion Island immediately!

There are a few who think it's a viable campaign issue. "Bobby Jindal administration blasts metric system, Lincoln Chafee"

You have to be careful these days. A headline like this is just as likely to appear on the Onion.