by Joe J. Jacob
On April 19th, 1973, Wilson Riles, Superintendent of Public Instruction for the State of California, called to announce that beginning in 1976 the Metric System would be taught in California. The reaction from the media and individuals was favorable. With the exception of one woman wrote that the conversion to metrics was “part of a conspiracy to brainwash the children to favor communism.” And pointed out “that not only the Soviet Union, but every communist nation in the world uses metrics.”
The metric system was adopted in France in 1793, and in 1976 was the beginning and the end of the metric system in U.S.
The U.S. adopted the British Imperial System of Measurement, while the English system is used in the U.S. only.
The system is no longer the standard measurement system used in Britain. Around 1970’s Britain scraped its Imperial System so that they gain access to the markets of
Europe, so that they do not fall behind in the global economy. Most countries in the world use the metric system.
The U.S. Dollar is the World’s first decimal currency, and is used by the government, scientific and business institutions in America. The metric system is comprehensive, consistent, logical and used around the world. The metric system is a decimal system, it is easier to learn than the non-decimal U.S. system. Metric system has several advantages over the U.S. system, only fractions are easier with the U.S. system.
Whenever the discussion of switching arose in Congress, big businesses and American citizens says it is time consuming and expensive hassle to change the country’s infrastructure. They believe they should keep the system they are using – the U.S. should be leader rather than follower.
Why we should go metric ? Because the metric system is the simplest form of measurement there is. It is easy to use meters and kilometers instead of yards, acres and hectares.
By adopting the metric system we will gain access to world markets and not fall behind in the global economy. I urge our government in Washington, Democrats and Republicans, to start working on the conversion to the Metric System without any hesitation. Our economy should be the envy of the world.
Joseph J. Jacob is a former corporate controller for Hamilton Digital Controls, Inc., former president of the National Association of Accountants in Mohawk Valley, former president of Upstate NY Regional Counsel of NAA and former National Director of NAA.
