In this case, it's the metric system. There are a lot of really good reasons: one of which is trade. There are only three countries in the world using the archaic system of measurement used in the US.
The other countries are:
| Country | 2021 Population |
|---|---|
| United States | 332,915,073 |
| Myanmar | 54,806,012 |
| Liberia | 5,180,203 |
You would think that if someone were really serious about "Making America Great Again" they would follow up by finally implementing a system of measurement that the founders approved of.
Immediately after independence, the United States used a variety of units of measure, including Dutch units and English units. The 1789 Constitution grants Congress the authority to determine standards of measure, though it did not immediately use this authority to impose a uniform system. The United States was one of the first nations to adopt a decimal currency, under the Coinage Act of 1792.
In 1793, Thomas Jefferson requested artifacts from France that could be used to adopt the metric system in the United States, and Joseph Dombey was sent from France with a standard kilogram. Before reaching the United States, Dombey's ship was blown off course by a storm and captured by pirates, and he died in captivity on Montserrat.
OK, early adoption was rather abortive, but the US SHOULD have been a pioneer here (as well as in other technological advancements, such as high speed rail, but that's another post). Anyway...
Congress included new encouragement for U.S. industrial metrication in the Omnibus Foreign Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designated the metric system as "the Preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce". The legislation states that the federal government has a responsibility to assist industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric system of measurement. The legislation required most federal agencies to use the metric system in their procurement, grants, and other business-related activities by the end of 1992. While not mandating metric use in the private sector, the federal government has sought to serve as a catalyst in the metric conversion of the country's trade, industry, and commerce. Exceptions were made for the highway and construction industries. The Department of Transportation planned to require metric units by 2000, but this plan was canceled by the 1998 highway bill TEA21. The U.S. military has generally high use of the metric system, partly because of the need to work with other nations' militaries.
There are quite a few stories where differences caused by contractors to the US government using both systems of measurement to disasterous effects.
So, what's causing me to bitch like this since I avoid the "English" system of measurements used by the US? Actually, I don't use them normally.
I am trying to convert Liquid ounces, cups, pints, quarts, etcetera into metric. Metric is easy there are 1000 millilitres in a litre, 100 centilitre in a litre, and so on. On the other hand, a system of measurement which was based on the length of the monarch's arm has to be shit.
Seriously, once you get used to metric, you wonder how you ever bothered with the antiquated system of measurement. Trust me--it's much better.
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