The United States should adopt the Metric System

Thank you for posting this argument. I like the way you think and I know I will enjoy this debate. My argument will be based on morality and realistic pragmatism. The only way to universally convert to an given system will unarguably require the coercion of those who do not wish to conform. While the majority of Americans appose switching to the metric system, but this fact is admittedly irrelevant to my argument. If only one percent of Americans favored using the Imperial system, no one should be able to intrude upon their right to do so. As it stands now, there is no barrier preventing any given business in the private sector from using the metric system. And as it stands now, most do not. If the metric system was truly such a cost saving measure, wouldn't the private sector jump at the chance to improve efficiency and thus profits? Of course, one can easily point to the auto industry as a good example of this kind of conversion. But why didn't the auto industry require the government to step in and force them to covert? Assuming that the metric system is fundamentally superior, why do so many American businesses refuse to use metric? There are three possibilities: 1. American businesses are two stupid and ignorant to convert to metric. 2. Many domestic American businesses do not do enough international business or have international potential to justify switching to metric 3. American companies can not afford to switch to metric. In cases two and three, why should such a company be forced to use metric even if it would result in unjustifiable costs? Furthermore, why are so many Americans dislike the metric system? This is a question often asked by pro-metric proponents, and in reality, it is a loaded question. Americans are not the only ones who favor traditional units of measurement over the metric system. Rather, we simply choose not to coerce our people into using a system that a select few feel is "superior". The Metric system is not fundamentally more convenient than the the traditional standard of weights and measurements. The majority of British population favor units such as inches, pounds, and pints over their metric counterparts, despite the fact that labeling products solely with non metric units has become a criminal offense. Many British industries have "switched" to metric as a purely token gesture as to not be prosecuted by the government. For example, doors are labeled as 1981x762mm. Why such an arbitrary number? Because it equals 6'6"x2'6", the traditional door size. http://www.tysknews.com... For many people, it is simply easier to work with fractions than to work with larger decimals. 6 1/4" is easier to remember than 0.1524m. This fact has resulted in a certain irony in the metrification of certain countries. Rather than use simple or basic factors in determining the size of a certain good, often the standard is set to mimic the Imperial standard in order to retain pure ease of use. For example, rather than producing 1 meter wooden planks, the standard has become 120 centimeters. This is because it is easy to divide 120 in fractions than a number such as 100. This is analogous of the foot-inch system. http://www.mosa.nl... Personally, I believe that the factual evidence showing that the metric system is not fundamentally superior is not necessary. The preference between metric and traditional units is purely subjective and determined by personal opinion. I concede that the Metric system has some advantages over many traditional systems, but the reverse is also true. As such, it is silly to try and force one system on a people, and morally questionable at best.