Is it really too late for the US to switch to the metric system? [View All]

Come on, people, this is long overdue!

Most of our children have learned SI and are capable of managing the switch. Over 190 other countries have been able to make the switch. What makes the United States any different?

I, as a natural-born American citizen, think it is time for a change. We have been too ignorant for too long. Our scientists keep getting frustrated having to convert from Metric to US Customary and back. Indeed, our cars are continuing to switch over their parts to metric sizes so that they can compete in a global economy. We can do this. We should do this (Indeed, we don't want to end up with another Mars Climate Orbiter incident). The fact remains however that we have not.

The reason we failed the first time was NOT because the policy was too strict, but because it was not strict enough. Placing signs and making labels in both Customary and Metric will only confuse people and make them angry. However, if the signs are replaced with metric-only units, I think people will quickly realize the simplicity of the system. Base 10 is just about the easiest way to do anything. 1 km = 1000 meters, what's not to get?

Does anyone ever realize why your Head & Shoulders shampoo bottles come in odd sizes? Look at the metric. It'll probably say "X00 mL" on it. Most people in America should know by now what a Liter is (thank you beverage industry). 700 mL sounds a lot better than 23.7 Fl Oz. Unfortunately the Fair Labeling and Packaging Act prevents manufacturers from using metric-only labeling within our borders, meaning they have to make equipment that will produce products in Metric and Customary sizes or labels.

Knowing Celsius should also be easy. Here's a little poem: "If it's 0 it is freezing. If it's higher it is not. If it's 20 it is warm and if it's 30 it is hot." Imagine using kilowatts instead of horsepower so that we can easily compare electric cars to their gasoline counterparts. I think the hardest unit people would figure out is kilograms, but it's just a little over 2 pounds.

As liberals, we are all about change. I just wish there would be a politician that would take this seriously. Hopefully there will be a state that will try to change and prove to be different from other states. Unfortunately we have a militant Tea Party that will resist any change and would likely consider this a "threat to their freedom" and "socialist," and also bring up the totally worthless argument that "nowhere in the Constitution does it say the government can tell us--" (ignoring the fact that there is nothing that prevents us from doing so either).

So, what are your thoughts? Do you think we should switch to the metric system, and if so, how should it be done?