U.S. Switch to Metric System free essay sample

The United States Should Switch to the Metric System One crucial, yet widely unnoticed issue plagues the United States of America today: the country simply faces a stubborn unwillingness to convert to the metric system. America spends millions of dollars on keeping the U. S. customary system in place. The refusal to convert hinders the country’s progress in the global economy. A conversion failure even sent a poor satellite hurtling towards destruction on the surface of Mars (Wheeler). The United States needs to convert to the metric system as soon as possible. The metric system consists of a decimal system containing units of volume, mass, temperature, and length in liters, grams, degrees Celsius, and meters. It stands as, by far, the most widely used unit system in the world. Gabriel Mouton of France created the original metric system in 1670 (MacLeod). The system spread through most of Europe by the mandate of Napoleon Bonaparte during his reign as Emperor of France (MacLeod)(Appendix A). We will write a custom essay sample on U.S. Switch to Metric System or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Since the beginning of America, people campaigned to use the metric system instead of the Customary System, which the United States inherited from Britain. Two of America’s presidents, Thomas Jefferson and John Quincy Adams, endorsed the metric system in the early years of the United States, but despite their efforts, they never managed to convert the country (Chapman). Later, in the 20th century, movements such as the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 were passed with the intention of enforcing the metric system. Today, the metric system has still not been established in America, despite multiple attempts to do so. The fight for the metric system has been occurring for hundreds of years, which seems like enough time for congress to pass at least one piece of legislation regarding the issue. Two hundred years ago, George Washington, the first president of the United States, articulated his desire for â€Å"uniformity in currency, weights and measures† (MacLeod). Since then, not much has changed. However, politicians in the past have given it their best effort. In 1975, the U. S. Metric Conversion Act, which encouraged the voluntary transition to the metric system by companies, was passed by Congress, but it faced the intense scrutiny of Americans who thought it was a gambit by Russian Communists to weaken America (Garfinkel). In 1988, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act was passed, requiring all government agencies to use the metric system, though only 22 of 37 complied (Chapman)(Appendix B). This law, however, is still in effect. This means that not only is it foolish not to use the metric system, it is also illegal in the public sector. Most other countries in the world mandated the metric system years ago, but when they did it, their citizens actually listened. Why does the United States still cling to the U. S. Customary System of Measurements, while all the other countries in the world, excluding Liberia and Myanmar, follow the metric system (Bohren and Strauss)? Credence can be lent to the assumption that if everyone else is doing something, then there is very likely a good reason, and it is best to follow suit. Most of the world uses the metric system; therefore, in order to keep up with the world, especially in terms of trade, it is necessary that the United States convert to the metric system as well. As Michael Chapman said, â€Å"international trade involves metric-sized products. † Applying the metric system to U. S. trade will create new jobs for the new markets created and increase trade by an estimated 20% (Chapman). Metric-sized exports will particularly increase trade with Canada, Mexico, and many European countries, which have already mandated the metric system and have no need for the current U.S. exports measured in inches and feet (Chapman). Currently, such countries do not like trading with the U. S. due to the complexity of its measurement system and the conversions that must be made. Americans, however, seem to think that the metric system is the one that complicates things. If there is one thing Americans love, it is simplicity. For this reason, it is surprising tha t they would choose to keep around an archaic system of weights and measures whose definitions and conversions are murky even to the most intelligent people. The metric system is much simpler than the English Customary system; everything is a multiple of 10. One meter is equal to 100 centimeters, which is equal to 1000 millimeters. Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius and freezes at zero degrees Celsius. One centimeter cubed is equal to one milliliter. It is a very simple system with conversions that are easy to compute and easy to remember. Meanwhile, English Customary System units do not convert so easily. One gallon is equal to eight pints. One yard is equal to three feet. One mile is equal to 1,760 yards. One foot is equal to 12 inches. Water boils at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and freezes at 32 degrees Fahrenheit. These conversion factors are all based on different numeral values and are extremely difficult to remember. Along with that, there are several random and silly extra measures of weight and area such as tons and acres, which just add more values to remember. According to a National Review article from 2011, the English Customary System is in fact so inconsistent that its units have been defined in terms of metric units since Grover Cleveland was president. If Americans truly value simplicity, then the logical step would be to simplify measurements and switch to metric. Along with love of simplicity, Americans also hate confusion. An article from 1994, in the Associated Press, gives another reason against the metric system; the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the majority of Americans were concerned it could be confusing (Associated Press). The majority of Americans, it appears, do not like change, and would rather struggle with their medieval English Customary System than switch to a better, albeit different, metric system. It is true that the new units will take some getting used to, especially to those who have spent their entire lives with the English Customary System. It is also true that some people may be ripped off or swindled due to their lack of understanding of value per unit. However, the human brain has an amazing capability to change and as a result, most people will catch on to the new system soon enough. Over time, as new generations are taught in the ways of the metric system and the intransigent older generations die off, the metric system will become the norm, leaving the English Customary System as nothing but a relic. Hopefully the younger generations will have minds open enough to see past the financial barrier of switching to the metric system, and on to the benefits it entails. The United States of America is currently trillions of dollars in debt, so it seems that right now the last thing the country needs is another huge, money-consuming project. Switching to the metric system would be just that. In order to completely metricize the country, all remnants of the English Customary System would be cast away. That means millions of dollars’ worth of machine parts, tools, electronics, and English Customary System-measured products would be wasted. Almost every tool involved in manufacturing would have to be modified, replaced, or repurposed. â€Å"The Nuclear Regulatory Commission estimates that it will cost the agency $2 to $3 million to convert to metrics† (Chapman). That is two to three million dollars to convert just one of hundreds of government industries. Added up, it would cost the United States government untold billions of dollars to convert to the metric system. However, an important thing to recall regarding this situation is NASA’s Mars Climate Orbiter, which in 1999 went careening off course and was either destroyed by Mars’ atmosphere or lost in space. This was caused mostly by a simple failure to convert units from English Customary to metric (Wheeler). The loss of the $125 million satellite was one blunder out of the multiple potential blunders that might occur due to the United States continuing to use the English Customary System. If things continue the way they are going, over time, these mistakes will add up to more than the billions of dollars it would take to metricize the nation. Should the United States switch to the metric system, it is also probable that the aforementioned trade benefits from doing so will eventually outweigh the cost of conversion. As an added bonus, to make the switch, thousands of new jobs will need to be created to make new parts and adjust machines. This will decrease the high unemployment levels that are plaguing the nation, and the economy will be boosted by the influx of money from the newly employed individuals. Overall, the future will be brighter and more profitable than the traditions which the United States holds on to. Tradition weighs heavily in the actions and decisions of Americans. Citizens of the United States try to evince the spirit of patriotism by holding onto traditions in whatever way then can. One of those traditions is the English Customary System, which has been a part of America since it began and can almost be considered a part of the culture. The English Customary System is all that many people know in terms of systems of units. It does not matter if it is not the best system in the world; it has been around since the start and the common mentality stands that, â€Å"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. † To convert to the metric system would mean that, â€Å"Workers would have to be retrained, tools replaced, machinery modified, map distances changed, etc. Food and clothing sizes would change. Everything† (Chapman). Nobody wants to go through all that, especially when he or she is committed to a system that is hundreds of years old and a part of their country’s culture and patriotism. However, that may not be the most patriotic mindset to have. In reality, many of the founding fathers and first presidents, the original patriots, were opposed to the English Customary system and rallied behind the metric system to be the national standard (MacLeod). So, in essence, to be truly patriotic would be to follow the standards set by the founding fathers and support the metric system. Despite the fear that surrounds change, changing the United States’ culture will not necessarily a negative outcome. Cultures change all the time to adapt to the current era. It used to be within the boundaries of propriety to own African people as slaves. That is now neither socially acceptable nor a part of American culture. The majority of people view this as a pleasant change. The same thing applies to metric conversion. Should the United States convert to the metric system, it too will become part of the country’s culture and many people will regard it as a pleasant change as well. In the current world, it is imperative that the United States convert to the metric system. The rest of the world uses it, it is a simpler system, and it is mandated by law in America for many agencies. One can argue that the metric system will confuse Americans, that it will be too expensive, or that the traditions of the past must be upheld. However, all of these issues can be circumvented with a little forward thinking. There is no obstacle that the United States cannot overcome as a country, so why should the barrier between different unit systems stand as one not yet hurdled? The answer is simple; it should not. The barrier needs to be broken and the metric system needs to be let into this country, if not because it is the smart thing to do, at least because it is the American thing to do. Appendix A â€Å"Later, as his armies fought their way across Europe, Napoleon forcibly imposed the system most of the world uses today. † Appendix B â€Å"The law in question concerns the use of the metric system of weight and measure as enacted by the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and amended in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This amendment on metric usage (Public Law 100-418, Section 5164) declares that the policy of the nation is to designate the metric system as the preferred system of measurement for trade and commerce, and requires each federal agency to use metric units in all or as many of its procurements, grants, and other business-related transactions as is economically feasible by the end of fiscal year 1992. According to a report by the Congressional Research Service at the end of fiscal year 1992, the Justice Department does not appear to be complying with the [metric usage] law. The Justice Department is not alone.