Paul, Don't you think that there will always be more serious issues for the country? So if we wait until there are no serious issues then that wait can mean never. Somewhere a decision has to be made as to how serious this situation is. Personally I am neither in favor of metric conversion nor against it. This means I would not make an issue to change, but if the change comes I would wholeheartedly accept it and not resist it. Of course I could be moved one way or the other from the center line if I was convinced the effort is worth it in the long run or we got along well without it so far so why change for the sake of change? If not going metric costs me my living standard that would be a reason. So far it hasn't as far as I know.
Jerry ________________________________ From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Saturday, January 24, 2009 10:59:02 AM Subject: [USMA:42446] Re: Obama inaugural quote President Obama has all the right rhetoric for "technological and infrastructure improvement," but no specific mention of metric as yet. His first year or two as President will most likely be occupied by more pressing concerns, i.e., unemployment, the economy, and war. Funny---yesterday, I fantasized about what would happen if a reporter asked him about metrication at a press conference, and in my fantasy I predicted that there would be a lot of giggling about it. We on this list obviously take it very seriously, but I think that our leaders and the country are so preoccupied with other issues at this time that they would consider any genuine discussion of metrication right now to be laughable--not because it is a bad idea, but because serious discussion about it right now is premature. In the right context, however, it shall be discussed, and really must be at some point. Again, I say, talk of metric right now--and I mean 24 January 2009--may not work. But, in our society, which changes by the hour, the same issue could grab headlines, and get meetings called in a few months or a year. The fickle U.S. public has a short, and shallow, memory. For example, in August, millions of us could name Alaska Governor Sarah Palin's home town; I'll bet no one remembers it now. Paul ----- Original Message ----- From: Jeremiah MacGregor To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: 24 January, 2009 08:53 Subject: [USMA:42428] Re: Obama inaugural quote Paul, Do you really think Obama will do something about changing the country to the metric system? May be so, but I can see that when the time actually comes, the plan would be canceled as it was before. Obama presently wants to delay the implementation of only digital TV signals because procrastinators aren't ready. Will they ever be? I can see the same thing happening with going metric. The plans are drawn up and the dates are set, then at the last minute everything will be put off because someone won't be ready. What would make anyone think that metric is any different then TV signals? Jerry ________________________________ From: Paul Trusten <[email protected]> To: U.S. Metric Association <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 5:47:46 PM Subject: [USMA:42384] Obama inaugural quote "For the world has changed, and we must change with it." --President Barack H. Obama, 20 January 2009 Paul Trusten, R.Ph. Public Relations Director U.S. Metric Association, Inc. www.metric.org 3609 Caldera Blvd. Apt. 122 Midland TX 79707-2872 US +1(432)528-7724 [email protected]
