How Obama could TRUELY be a historic president!

He might be the first "black" president and that might be historical enough...but there is one this he could do to make his term in office remembered throughout history- for all eternity!

What is this magical effort, you ask?

Peace in the Middle East?
No.

Health care reforms?
No.

Total disclosure in the UFO/Alien subject?
Mah, maybe...

I'll tell you what he could do, what eminent change he could bring:

Introduce and apply the Metric System througout the entrie US of A!

Short introduction to the Metric System:

1 cubic decimeter = 1 litre (of water = 1 kilo)

1 liter is 10 deciliters, 100 centiliters, 1000 mililiters.

1 kilometer = 1000 meters.
1 meter = 10 decimeter.
100 centimeter = 1 meter.

0 celsius degrees = freezing point for water.
100 celsius degrees = boiling point for water.

And so forth...

So, let President Barack Hussein Obama enforce the change we all have been waiting for. Let the measurements comply globally.
This is what we have all been waiting for!

Quickly, how many pounds are there in 100 ounces? How many feet are there in a mile? Which is greater: 5.5 pints, 94 fluid ounces, or 3 quarts? How many square yards are there in an acre?

Link

Marge: Now, I know you haven't liked some of my past suggestions, like switching to the metric system...
Abe: The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets forty rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it!

America's Aversion to the Metric System

According to the US CIA World Factbook in 2006, the International System of Units is the official system of measurement for all nations except for Burma, Liberia, and the United States (some sources identify Burma and/or Liberia as metric, however).

Wiki



(If mods find this thread severly misplaced, feel free to move it. Please accept my apologies in advance)

Originally posted by Raud

So, let President Barack Hussein Obama enforce the change we all have been waiting for. Let the measurements comply globally.
This is what we have all been waiting for!

As far as i'm concerned Americans like the system we already have in place, and you're from Europe so I don't really see how you can say this is what we have all been waiting for, do you have a source to back that up?

I say leave the current system in place, we couldn't even afford to replace all the road signs in this country at this point in time anyways.

You diabolical EVIL MADMAN!

Hell NO 10 don't FLOW!

The metric system is a commie plot to destroy all that is good and pure in the US.

You can keep your insane base 10 measurement. Ill stick to my rods and hogsheads thank you very much!

reply to post by whatukno


The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it

I'm not sure the metric system would be what guarantees Obama's place in the annals of history. In fact I'm not even sure it would be momentous when looked back upon.

Some (including on this site) seem to equate the US (formerly "English" system) measurement system to Christianity and patriotism, while the few manufacturers we have left go broke trying to sell equipment overseas. Heavy equipment makers like CAT went metric years ago. It was either that or go broke. The majority of GM and Ford products are metric, although some fasteners in locations that engineers thought owners might want access to are in the US system. As long as you don't have to learn the new system, you won't. This is one time when I would support the heavy hand of the government, even under Obama, to come down and slap everyone into the twentieth century. Then you'd only have one century to go to catch up. I'm a Statist conservative, and have never understood why people want to bathe in ignorance.

Originally posted by Uniceft17
As far as i'm concerned Americans like the system we already have in place, and you're from Europe so I don't really see how you can say this is what we have all been waiting for, do you have a source to back that up?

Well, it would greatly improve the situation when you mail order stuff from the US.
All kinds of instructions for items manufactured or ment for use in the US but operated outside the country. I talking about everything from cooking recipies, engines, hobby supplies...

I'm not sure the metric system would be what guarantees Obama's place in the annals of history. In fact I'm not even sure it would be momentous when looked back upon.

Well, that remains to see later on.

But if he (the President) would change it, everyone would notice it. Measurements of any sort is used daily by both proffesionals and amateurs.

People might think back at the old system on day and say "thank you Obama for relieving us from that nonsense!"

There is a huge difference between famous and infamous. I think Obama realizes that there are more than enough Americans that hate him already. No sense getting all of America on the same page of hating. They might join forces on other things after that. And the Federal government simply can not have Americans united.

And the metric system is just as flawed and arbitrary as Standard American English units. The absolute proof to that statement is there is no metric unit for time.

But to be fair, how many times to we state a person's weight in grams or why is it that a cubic centimeter of water is one gram when liquids are measured in liters of which a cubic centimeter is one milliliter? Can't even have base units determine informations as those become just too bizarre to deal with realistically.

Besides, Carter really tried hard. We think of him as a failure. Although the metric conversion is not the main reason, but has a small factor in there somewhere.


[edit on 11-11-2009 by Ahabstar]

They tried that crap when I was in 4th grade. NO EUROTRASH METRICS FOR US!

Freakin frog came up with it anyway.

The pyramids were built with the inch and foot. Nuff said.

reply to post by Raud


LOL Raud!

Your humor was not lost on me! Freakin funny thread mate! I near wet myself!

IRM

Just remember kids- if we go metric, gas will be sold BY THE LITER, and NOT by the GALLON.

So- who wants to pay the same amount for less gas? Anyone? You? How about you, in the corner? It'll be the same for everything else sold by the gallon, pound, ect. I can tell you right now, prices wont reflect that you're getting less.

It'll be a great way to gouge the consumer (once again).

Man, you guys are hatin'!

I could never imagine that this subject would arise such agression!
Weren't you all about fighting the King of England to be free and all that?
But you still kept the Imperial (inferior) system?

Well, the joke is on you!

1 US mile = 1760 yards
1 fathom = 6 feet

1 fluid ounce = 0.125 cups

Dry gallons? Fluid quarts?

And this makes sense to you?


Why man, why?
And "tradition" is not a valid excuse!
(Yeah, I am looking at you Wukky!)

Cheers!! I am all for the Metric System in the US. It is mathematically pure and simple. It is amazing how many people cannot accurately read a conventional tape measure. I used to work for a very large home builder and mathematical errors used to run rampant and cost us money.

There is a reason that it is the preferred system throughout the world!! except for the US of course.

Simplify your life with the metric system!! It just makes sense!! Quickly add up 3/32 + 9/16.

Give me metric or give me death!!

[edit on 11-11-2009 by jibeho]

reply to post by Raud


I think you misinterpret some points here and allude to hatred. I'm saying if we did, it would not be this amazing thing for which a u.s. president would be remembered it would simply be a footnote.

Can you name without a google search the president that took us off the gold standard?

Can you name who was president when we classified the hurricane levels?

Can you name who was president when tv's became a household item?

Just another point in history, and it wouldn't be half as exciting or revolutionary as it's being made out to be.

Why is it sooo hard for ppl to just memorize this #
.03937008 or maybe just those of us that are self proclaimed gunsmiths/machinists, and make airplane parts can do this....?

reply to post by Raud

Man, you guys are hatin'!

It's heritage not hate

I am sure that eventually the US will go to the Metric System, that day will be after I am dead in the ground. The US loves it's imperial system. Yes our manufacturers have to go metric cause of the rest of the world and yes it's odd that 32 °F is freezing and 212 °F is boiling.

But ask someone what their temperature is supposed to be in the US

I doubt many would say. 37.0 °C

You know what? I think you are right - but lets take this a little further. You want us to switch to the metric system because that is what the majority of the world uses, right?

Well after we switch to the metric system I think, for continued world harmony, we need to "standardize" a few more items.

More people speak Mandarin Chinese (882 million) than any other lagnuage - so as of January 15, 2010 the world will speak only Mandarin Chinese. That should help things.

More people in the world practice Christianity (2.1 billion) than any other religion. Sorry Islam (1.5 billion). As of February 19, 2010 the entire world shall practice Christianity. This is getting easier and easier.

According to this ( article ) Toyota is the world's most popular brand of car followed by Ford and Volkswagen. So as June 15, 2010 everyone in the world shall drive a Smart car.



My work here is done.

Dorian Soran

Well if he itroduced the Metric system I hope they would atleast consider not throwing out the foot. I guess one could adapt to it but I think it'll always be easier to say thats about ten feet rather than thats about 30 decimeters. I use my foot all the time to measure with. I could see stepping something off 3, 6 ,9 12, 15 etc, thats about 18 decimeters, (about 6ft). I use the metric system a lot too, but 1 foot is such a handy measuring tool.

You know what they could do to solve the problem is merge the foot and and the metric system together. Let the foot = 3 decimeters , 30cm's or 300mm's from now on, like its already close to doing on your 1 ft ruler. Do away with inches and yards keep everything else the same. That would work because a meter is similar to a yard already.

In other words adopt the word foot into the metric system. That way you still have that quick reference to the length of your foot. I think that would make it easier for the folks where the metric system is already dominant.

Now when you shoot something with a transit you would be saying that's about 4 ft, 16 and a half centimeters. Or easier to say thats 4 ft, 165.


A door would be 6' 20cm's instead of 6'8"
A counter top would be 2' 29cm's instead of 35 and 5/8"s.


Milimeters are nice because you cant get much smaller than a mm and it still be useful on a ruler.

Originally posted by Voyager1
1 foot is such a handy measuring tool.

Yeah.. especially for the porn industry. Inches and feet have such a romanticism attached to them don't they!

IRM

Walter Payton would turn over in his grave if heard Al Michaels say "Ahman Green picks up 4 meters on his 3rd carry of the game" or instead of "its 4th down and about a foot go" we get to hear "its 4th down and .3048 meters to go for a first down."

Jeff Jenkins just belted hit is 40th homer of the year and it traveled 120 meters to the seats.


hmmm - I dont like this one bit.

Dorian Soran