At 3 09 04, 11:27 AM, mavi fibe wrote (edited for length): >... IF this is the kind of situation that >exists in the US when it comes to lobbying then one >more reason why we should just forget about the whole >thing.... > >...If all we're left with is "market forces" or the >good will of a few, once again, NOTHING WILL EVER >*MEANINGFULLY* HAPPEN in this area! > >... it's simply NOT ENOUGH that we continue 'putting... >time and money on the line' if we work *ALONE*! > >... How can one really make ANY impact on something >that has so far reaching consequences like >metrication? An issue that impacts the WHOLE society >and a significant part of economic activities? How >can one find true solutions that MUST involve >*cooperative/collective effort*? > >What I mean is simple, so what, even if the >overwhelming majority ends up agreeing, ok metric is >the way to go, then what? How can one pull this one >off? One must understand that it's simply unworkable >for ONE to simply go ahead and 'put their money where >their mouth is and do it'! > >Bottom line? Well... Without *collective* >initiatives metrication will NOT work, *P-E-R-I-O-D*! >Now, if someone can come up with another strategy >other than 'lobbying' to fulfill such critical >requirement I'm all ears!
It must be MIGHTY depressing to feel you have so little control over life, and that only the government or the "collective" can make any change!!!!! Being the Libertarian, Free-Market, Laissez Faire, Capitalist Pig that I am, I know that most societal change comes from the action of private individuals, individually and combined into organizations such as companies, corporations, non-profits, universities, research organizations, lobbying groups, etc. Heck, Marcus, I metricated my company and didn't need any "collective" will to do so (I didn't even ask for Board approval -- it made sense so I did it). So have Ford, Chrysler, GM. So have most electronics component manufacturers. So have lots of consumer beverage manufacturers, and cleaner and personal care product manufacturers. No legislation forces Home Depot to carry metric fasteners, but they do. Even the US military did it without Congressional mandate. When enough of this has happened, the government will fall in line. I simply give up with you Marcus. You clearly believe that without the US Federal Government mandating metrication, this country will never metricate. I believe that not only is that untrue, but that we are *already* metricating. All I ask is that you not express your pessimism outside of this forum -- you will only make our job harder. Jim Jim Elwell, CAMS Electrical Engineer Industrial manufacturing manager Salt Lake City, Utah, USA www.qsicorp.com
