|
The reversion of these states is not a tragedy. The
tragedy was not keeping the original date, punishing those who didn't
comply by with-holding of highway funds, and not forcing metrication to the
lowest level. The states like California were backed into a corner
with zero support from the top to the bottom. Reversion was
inevitable. And, yes, New York will revert too.
I believe the TEA-21 was a godsend to the majority of
states. As the dead-line approached, it was obvious that most never
prepared for metrication only claiming to do so, betting (and betting wisely)
that they would be spared at the last minute. And they were. Those
states that did prepare were the ones to hang on the longest.
If the Federal Government had kept the original date
intact most states would have been caught unprepared. A smarter move,
would have been to agree for a 5 year clause in TEA-21, to give the states a
2-nd chance and to be sure they were not pulling a fast one, to have their
progress monitored. Also, states and the Federal government could have
worked together to pressure suppliers to provide metric materials at fair
prices.
There are many ways to make it all work. It just
takes the right kind of smarts and attitude.
Euric
|
