Hi, Mike,Thank you for contacting USMA concerning the metric system as a possible 2008 U.S. presidential campaign issue. Obviously, we at USMA and on the USMA listserver believe, as you do, that metrication is an important long-term issue for the U.S. However, I personally doubt that any of the current major candidates would want to raise it as an issue in their campaigns. "Metrophobia," or fear of measurement-system change, has always been a third rail in U.S. politics. Talking about metication in public just doesn't go over very well. Only one member of Congress, Representative Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), had made a strong public statement in favor of U.S. metrication. The U.S. government has encouraged metric, albeit very selectively, as a technical change in U.S. commerce, and not as the pervasive national change that it should be. I think that the executive leadership needed to put metrication over the top in America will come from an incumbent president, not a candidate.
The only mention I have seen of the metric system in any campaign so far is a metric system discussion group formed on the site of Senator Barack Obama's campaign. However, I caution everyone that this group is hollow. I don't know why they formed it. I joined it and tried posting questions to it, but received no salient response on the issue. And, joining the list just got me on the political mailing list of the campaign.
I don't want to discourage you from talking up metric with any U.S. leader of any kind, public or private. I like to counter metrophobia by reminding people that the U.S. has always been a, bold, progressive nation, constantly building and improving. Changing over to the world measurement standard will be just another one of our many steps forward in 232 years.
Please consider subscribing your e-mail address to the USMA listserver at www.metric.org/listserv.htm <http://www.metric.org/listserv.htm>. Also, why not go the extra kilometer, and join USMA? I've attached a membership application. You'll just love it!!
SI-ncerely, -- Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Blvd., Apg. 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 USA +1(432)528-7724 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
usmamembership.pdf
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