Stan, I disagree. Yes, for several years now, we at USMA and others on this
list have indeed supported the FPLA metric-only labeling option, seeing it as
an important spark to educate the U.S. public in the terrible vacuum of silence
on metrication. But, what is really needed is general assent to a clear,
coordinated national plan to change over to metric. Picture President Obama
sharing a podium with leaders of U.S.industries, academia, the media, and the
entertainment world, in a joint announcement to fulfill the recommendations of
the 1971 Commerce Department report on metric, with a plan to change the Nation
predominantly to metric, sector by sector, in 10 years. Until such a plan is
formulated, our country will not change over to metric effectively.
Considering our new president's currently huge popularity, he sure could make a
difference. But, I'm not at all sure that he would move on metric this year,
or even next year. We do know that metric is fourth on that obamacto.org list;
this could help.
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: STANLEY DOORE
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: 22 January, 2009 08:08
Subject: [USMA:42402] Re: President Obama at George Mason University
Pat et al:
Changing laws in the US to allow metric only labeling and requiring the
Federal Government to buy metric products and to make conversion to the SI
mandatory, such as weather reporting and road signs, needs to be the first
step. Until this is done, it won't happen.
Stan Doore
----- Original Message -----
From: Pat Naughtin
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Thursday, January 22, 2009 12:39 AM
Subject: [USMA:42401] President Obama at George Mason University
Dear All,
I have just been reading the text of the speech that President Barack Obama
presented at George Mason University on January 8. His forward thinking plans
particularly struck me as plans that would all benefit enormously from being
conducted using metric system measurements. Here is part of the text of
President Obama's speech:
That work begins with this plan – a plan I am confident will save or create
at least three million jobs over the next few years. It is not just another
public works program. It’s a plan that recognizes both the paradox and the
promise of this moment – the fact that there are millions of Americans trying
to find work, even as, all around the country, there is so much work to be
done. That’s why we’ll invest in priorities like energy and education; health
care and a new infrastructure that are necessary to keep us strong and
competitive in the 21st century. That’s why the overwhelming majority of the
jobs created will be in the private sector, while our plan will save the public
sector jobs of teachers, cops, fire fighters and others who provide vital
services.
To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the
production of alternative energy in the next three years. We will modernize
more than 75% of federal buildings and improve the energy efficiency of two
million American homes, saving consumers and taxpayers billions on our energy
bills. In the process, we will put Americans to work in new jobs that pay well
and can’t be outsourced – jobs building solar panels and wind turbines;
constructing fuel-efficient cars and buildings; and developing the new energy
technologies that will lead to even more jobs, more savings, and a cleaner,
safer planet in the bargain.
To improve the quality of our health care while lowering its cost, we will
make the immediate investments necessary to ensure that within five years, all
of America’s medical records are computerized. This will cut waste, eliminate
red tape, and reduce the need to repeat expensive medical tests. But it just
won’t save billions of dollars and thousands of jobs – it will save lives by
reducing the deadly but preventable medical errors that pervade our health care
system.
To give our children the chance to live out their dreams in a world that’s
never been more competitive, we will equip tens of thousands of schools,
community colleges, and public universities with 21st century classrooms, labs,
and libraries. We’ll provide new computers, new technology, and new training
for teachers so that students in Chicago and Boston can compete with kids in
Beijing for the high-tech, high-wage jobs of the future.
I couldn't help thinking that the metrication elephant had got into the
room again without anyone noticing. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com/docs/AMetricationElephant.pdf to see how
metrication in the USA would help to implement President Obama's plans.
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has helped
thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the modern metric
system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they now save thousands each
year when buying, processing, or selling for their businesses. Pat provides
services and resources for many different trades, crafts, and professions for
commercial, industrial and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and
in the USA. Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA,
NIST, and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See
http://www.metricationmatters.com for more metrication information, contact Pat
at [email protected] or to get the free 'Metrication matters'
newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter to subscribe.
