Quote:
Originally Posted by Tread
Are the SI Units (like kg and J) so unknown in the USA, that you have to link them?
Why USA, Burma and Liberia don't accept le Système international d'unités, like everyone else?
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Although I got a chuckle out of Randolph's reply; the answer is; No, they are not so unknown. As I stated below that, it was from a Wilkipedia page. When I copied and pasted; it brought the hyperlinks along with it.
I don't know exactly why the USA never completly switched over to the metric system. I remember that they said we would over 40 years ago when I was in school, but it hasn't happened yet. Right now we have a mixed up system. Think how lucky folks are in other countries. I have to have two sets of mechanics tools just to work on my vehicles.
The progress towards metric usage in the USA is happening; it is just rather slow. Just another example of the "will of the people" in action.
People have a natural resistance to change. Most likely that is an inborn survival trait. They resist change unless there is a clear-cut advantage to it. So far, this country has been able to get by without changing for the most part. Other countries had to change to compete economically. In areas like the sciences; the USA change was instituted long ago. Most of the Federal government has changed to the metric system.
One area that has changed is that alcohol (booze) is sold by the metric system. It is now sold in metric containers with a 750 ml bottle replacing the former "fifths" which were about 757 ml. Beer however is still measured by the old standard ounces like soda pop. Both usually display the metric volume in parenthesis also.