The reason the US economy has not converted to the Metric System is based on simple economics. Some conversions have occurred, and over time when items are replaced in design and manufacturing, more converstions will occur. But the US is the worlds largest economy. If they were counted individually, 4 US states would displace 4 countries to be in the top ten economies world-wide. Nineteen US states would be in the top 30 economies of the world!
The most recent estimates to replace the imperial system to the metric system in the US is over $2.5 trillion dollars. Think about that number. That cost is why it is not economically feasible to convert all at once. That number is more than the GNP of all of Europe, Japan, and Australia combined. The economy of much of the world would go in to a tailspin if the US tried to convert at at once..not to mention the US economy. And many foreign manufacturers who import to the US would have to spend huge sums themselves to retool/refigure because they have invested considerable sums in making items to the imperial standard for export to the US only. Many of the smaller countries of the world, and those mainland European countries who still cling to "empire" memories of the 1600's and 1700's, would find their economies, which are already in disarray (18-22% unemployment in many of them) would be even worse off.
The metric system is a good idea. But economics and cost/benefit analysis is how the business world, world-wide, operates. Changing the US economy quickly to the metric system would dramatically and negatively impact on the world economy. This is more than just about books and learning. The conversion will impact everything to include things most folks would never think about. To say the US is "stupid" to not change all at once is uninformed. A lot of folks who have jobs in the US and worldwide woud be impacted if the government put out an edict that all business had to change quickly. Even small independent businesses would be greatly impacted because their suppliers and the economic health of their customers might be impacted. To say "well, I've converted in my business" is taking the short view and not realizing that if many of your customers are impacted because the companies they work for are impacted, you are not going to be better off. Just something to think about.
