Metric system use in the US

I believe that we (Americans) like our different system as something that sets us apart.  I don;t think you will see, in our lifetimes, this change ever happen.  There is no reason for it. 

Also, think of the infrastructure cost.  You would have to change all of the Highway signs and speed limit signs simultaneously.  You couldn;t just replace signs as they required it.  Going down I80 and you see a Speed Limit 70 MPH and then a speed limit sign of 112 KMH.  As I type this I realize that the cost of change would be staggering on many fronts.

It could be part of the stimlus bill.  Just think of how many jobs it would create to change all the signs...

hope not, I'd hate to walk up to the hot dog stand and ask for a 30.5 cm hot dog....

It's like a split personality at work.  We work with grams, litre, mg/mL etc.  Yet people call a bottle of 4L methanol "a gallon of methanol".  And system pressure readings are "psi". 

Growing up in early 80s in Hong Kong it was the time when they introduced the metric system.  So I am familiar with both.  Body weights and heights are measured in cm/inches and kg/lb.  Both make sense to me. 

ETA:  conversions doesn't have to be exact.  Hong Kong changed all the driving speed limit signs from mph to km/h when I was in grade school.  Remember TV showing informaiton about that.  "the 50 mph signs will be replaced by 80 km/h signs".  No.  They didn't put a 80.47 km/h sign for the 50 mph. 

I remember being force-fed the metric system in Jr. High, but actually enjoyed learning the easier weights/measurements/etc., being a math geek.

However, if we had to convert to the metric system, then would we have to convert to the Euro, too? *gasp*

Isn't the US currency already in "metrics"?  It's not like 120 cents to a dollar. 

'splain the quarter.

quarter = 25 ¢.

$ 1 = 4 quarters = 4 x 25 ¢ = 100 ¢.

Still metrics. 

just be glad we don't go backwards and start using old-English terms, e.g. furlongs (sp?), stones, score, fortnight, etc.

then again, I think once when I got stuck on an engineering exam question - I made up a new measurement and that made my calculations very easy...

Just to note.  Most interstates ARE designed in metric.  Just not posted that way...  But stationing, pavement width, vertical/horizontal curves, design speed, is all in metric.

The only thing that the public 'see', is the speed limit signs, which are in MPH.

Everyone knows what a 2-liter bottle of soda is and 750 ml of booze.  I guess that says something.

How come soda and booze are the only things we can figure out in metric?...  funny.

I need all metric tools to work on my bike and motorcycle.  I would assume it's the same for some autos as well.

well, that and running.  we all know 5,000 & 10,000 meter.

I meant the metric system would never take over here in the US.

I remember mom complaining about the 1 liter & 2 liter Coke bottles when they switched.

Of course not.  But it's still prevelant in lots of industry.  Just not very common in every day life.

remember when it was the 220, 440, and 880 in track?  Or are you too young?  Did I just date myself?  Anyone else know what I mean?

I know exactly what you're talking about!

I ran the 880

Also did a 440 leg of a mile relay