As far as i know the united states uses the imperial system of measurment and always has.

Congress included new encouragement for U.S. industrial metrication in the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988. This legislation amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designated the metric system as "the Preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce". The legislation states that the Federal Government has a responsibility to assist industry, especially small business, as it voluntarily converts to the metric system of measurement. 1980s Road Map talking about an impending change to the metric system Federal agencies were required by this legislation, with certain exceptions, to use the metric system in their procurement, grants, and other business-related activities by the end of 1992. While not mandating metric use in the private sector, the Federal Government has sought to serve as a catalyst in the metric conversion of the country's trade, industry, and commerce. Exceptions were allowed for the highway and construction industries. The Department of Transportation was planning to require metric units by 2000, but this plan was canceled by the 1998 highway bill TEA21.[6] Use in the U.S. military is generally high, due, in part, to the need to work with other nations' militaries.[7] Some members of Congress attempted to ban use of the metric system on federal highways in 1992 and 1993.[8][9] However, these anti-metric bills were not met with much enthusiasm by the House and failed without a vote at the time. (from wikipedia)

I do not know if we should switch to the metric system or not. On the one hand it would be a cost savings AFTER we switched. On the other hand the interest on the cost of switching might be more than the cost savings after the switch making it a net loss.

Yes, there was a law passed that Metric should become the preferred standard but you can't change people that way unless you make it absolutely required. And the people rebelled. Because we can use both, they don't see the need to use the metric.

Oh, they tried. More than once. But government cannot actually force the People to do anything. And the People LIKE the Imperial system. So although many weights and measures come in both flavors now, Americans prefer to think in Imperial measurements. Chalk up one loss for the social engineers.

I remember in the 70s they said that in ten years everything would be metric. Food products started putting imperial and metric wieghts on containers but the imperial stayed. Hubby uses metric rulers at work.

Yes your correct but now we use both. It has been decided that it is a good thing to be able to have many different ways to measure things.

I do remember that.In school they were pushing the metric system hard,then it stopped.By the way glad to see you participating again.

No, I was just being born. I learned some of the metric system on my own later, beginning around age 12.

I'm glad I don't ur explanation gave me a headache already ...lol