Why hasn't the USA converted to the metric system? What's it going to take?

Question

Why hasn't the USA converted to the metric system? What's it going to take?

Answer 1

The US is disinclined to convert to the metric system due to many reasonable factors. First, the US customary system works quite well and most Americans see no reason to change from a system that works absolutely fine. Second, there is a comfort-factor in that Americans are used the the customary system and would have to learn a whole new system, again, for no real necessary reason except to conform. Third, there would be considerable expense. Think of the cost to change all the road signs, and that's just one thing. There's so many more things that would have to be changed. In fact during the late 70's the Carter Administration attempted to get America to go metric. Some road signs were put-up in kilometers; however, they were swiftly vandalized. The department of transportation notes that in a recent poll, the majority of those polled were strongly against even having metric along with customary units. In short, the people don't want it, and Europe trying to force it on American's will never work. Americans are not a people who are easily forced to do anything they don't want to.

Answer 2

Mainly, people are very stuck in their ways. As a person having grown up with the standard system, it is very difficult to visualize what 100g means or how tall a 2.5m person is. Part of this, I think has to do with the lack of any natural basis for the metric measurements. An inch is about the length from the tip of the thumb to the first nuckle, a foot is about a foot long, etc... Also, in things like cooking, a pint of beer is perfect, but a liter is too much and a half liter is too little... you end up having to have odd measurements. I don't think the US is ever going to convert. The current system of everything that is sold having both measurements works rather well.

Answer 3

I don't think a lot of Americans would support a change to the metric system because it doesn't mean a lot to them. After all, the system we have is perfectly good for describing weights, measures, temperature, and so on. Plus, I think that people have a "feel" for how much things are on the standard system so they don't want to have to change. For example, if you say to most Americans that it's 70 degrees outside, they'll know it's a temperate day, but if you told them it was 20 degrees C, I'm not sure a lot of people would know what that was.

Answer 4

the us hasnt converted for many reasons one grad schoolers are taught r way so only kids that are young would know it

2 it would cost money to completely change it