Metric System

Most Americans have only a passing acquaintance with the metric system. Most Americans I know -- even technical folks -- have no intuitive sense of even the most basic metric units, such as meters, °C, kilograms, etc. Likewise, most find conversions a bit intimidating, and would most likely have to hit the books (or the web) to convert, say, inches to centimeters.

I recently found the map at right, which shows (in red) the countries of the world that officially do not use the metric system. I knew there weren't many -- I'd probably have guessed ten or so -- but only three? Look at the company we're in: Liberia and Myanmar (formerly Burma).

In my own experience, this is a little misleading, but not too much. Everywhere I've ever been (and I've never been to Liberia or Myanmar) everyone is at least familiar and comfortable with the metric system. However, in some countries, remnants of the older, non-standard units still exist. For example, in the UK one can still find some speed and distance signage on the roads that uses miles instead of kilometers, and in the grocery stores you'll find some items packaged in non-round metric values (like 454 grams) that just happen to be a round Imperial value (454 grams equals 1 pound).

Even here, the metric system is starting to "sneak in" a bit. Wine is normally packaged in metric sizes these days. Many mechanics are familiar with the metric hardware found on Japanese and European cars. Electronics technicians and engineers generally use the metric system, even though they may not even know it. We even passed a law a decade or so ago mandating a switch to the metric system. What's holding up the works?

Probably it just boils down to this: completely switching to the metric system would involve a considerable expense without an obvious way to recover the expense. Certainly if the entire world (and especially such a huge market as the United States) were using a single system of measurement, there would be lots of small efficiencies that would benefit us all. But if you look at it from the perspective of most individuals or companies, mostly you see additional expense and no extra revenue.

For example, suppose you owned a saw mill in Idaho that catered to the local building trade. To switch to the metric system would mean that (for instance) a 2x4 (in inches) becomes a 5x10 (in cm). All of your products would be affected. You'd have to print new price sheets and catalogs. You'd have to buy new software to plan your cuts for the new products. You'd have to re-tool all your fixed jigs, and likely you'd want to buy new saw blades that had a metric kerf. You'd have to train all your workers, and even your customers. All of this would cost a significant amount of money -- but where's the benefit to the company? None at all...

Only a small minority of individuals or companies in the U.S. would actually see a benefit by conversion. Some companies currently make two versions of their products -- one built to the metric system for the international market, and one built to English measures for the American market. These companies would benefit by having a simpler product line. Some individuals would benefit because they must, for their work, use both systems; having one would be easier. But there aren't very many examples like this. Most of us, and most companies, would simply incur a useless expense in converting.

Which probably explains the recurring complaints by international trade organizations about our intransigence in sticking with English measurements. I'm sure they'd like nothing better than to see us uselessly wasting our money and time converting, while they can sit back righteously praising our efforts -- which temporarily would make them more competitive.

Having said all that, I must also say this: I wish the U.S. had already adopted the metric system. It grates on me that we are not participating in one of the few worldwide standards that actually makes sense. But I don't think it's going to happen anytime soon, for the reasons given above. Unless, of course, the moonbats come to power -- in which case we'll be switching to the metric system along with changing our national language to French (or perhaps Esperanto)...