he link between measuring systems and politics is an enthralling one. In a country which replaced its imperial (in both senses) measures in the 1960s, this was an economic, political and probably psychological gesture. My generation 40-50 year olds, went through school with both systems and so tend to have both measures converting back and forth in our brains to make sense of it. 

On the political side, different measuring systems have also been used as defector trade restrictions. Perhaps Americas slowness in coming round to the rest or the world standards is part of the ploy to use free trade where it suits, but block imports which might harm local industry. Australia did a similar thing with railway gauges, each colony, and then state having a different gauge to help foster local industry and keep out competing rolling stock manufactures. 
Personally I don't see any intrinsic advantage of the metric system, apart from us having ten fingers and so building from a base ten counting system, and the benefits to a global economy of having the same system. In the end manufacturers often choose a size that makes no sense in any system.

Then of course there is metric time, now who has the system which fits there.

Excuse my ramblings

Gary Vines
Archaeologist
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-----Original Message-----
From: David_Hayes_STX [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Tuesday, 7 January 2003 8:25 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Measuring systems


Hello:

        Techically we are metric since all the english/usa units are now
defined in metric terms I.E. the inch is defined as 2.54 cm.
        I also belive that the feds require most drawings to have both
units on them. Our cars engines are now metric. we lost the old 250,  292
and 350 CID Chevys years ago. the big one was called a 5.7 litre for a
while before it pasted away. The only item left on a car that is metric I
think is the tires.

David Hayes RPA
St. Croix, Virgin Islands