Because we are a free country and no one can force us to do something like that. We don't want the metric system because we are just fine with the system we have. I've never heard anyone complain about remembering that there's 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, 4 quarts to a gallon, etc. Our system is a wonderful thing which is originally based on practical measurements of the human body or other human activities. The metric system is a cold, lifeless, unhuman system, quite worthy of the society that produced it (the Reign of Terror). By the way, I learned the metric system in college when I took college physics I and II and yes, it was easier to do technical calculations in the metric system, but most Americans don't do such calculations in their everyday life.

In the UK we have been forced to go over to the metric system by Europe, although I was trained as an engineer in imperial units i have now been trained in metric as well, although metric is easier to calculate on technical issues it is harder in everyday life. Our road signs are still in imperial, which is confusing for young people who have been brought up on metric. We all prefer imperial units and want them to remain in use, my advice to Americans is to hold on to imperial units for dear life.

One reason is because it would cost a lot of money to change all of the road signs, consumer products, and everything else made in the USA.

Well, if you're not a drunk or a drugger, then you don't already know the USA has 2 places that use the metric system . . . in the sale of liquor and illegal drugs . . . I don't know why, but it's true. Sodas are sold in liters and speedometers have kilometers, as well as miles per hour on them. I'm sure there are a few other things too . . . But anyway . . . Besides the enormous cost of changing all the things we've grown accustomed to over the years, it's a whole lot of laziness. The other answer states all our signs would have to be changed. That's just one of many costs we aren't willing to accept as important enough. Yes, the metric system is easier, and it would make more sense to share the measurement with the rest of the world. However, it's difficult to learn it when the way it's taught is by comparing metrics to feet and inches, or quarts and pints. Then all we're left with is strange equations, that are hard to remember and calculate. Well, that's how it was done when I was in grade school, and the talk of the future included the conversion to metrics, ONE DAY . . . but still not done. We (Americans) need to just learn metric for what it is and forget the comparisons. We'd still have the expense in changing road signs, etc. but it would be better - maybe!

The simple answer is -- the American people don't want to change. And nobody can force the American people to do something they don't want to do. That's the whole idea of "government by the people".

Basically, because the metric system is too easy to use. If you make things difficult enough, common people are easier to rule with a bunch of bureaucrats. This also happened in the Middle Ages when the rulers wanted people to work in Roman numerals. Once people started using Arabic numerals, the rulers lost some of their power. They are afraid that this might happen if we go metric. The other big reason is laziness. Initially, people would have to get used to it. That 27" TV is now about 0.7 meters. If it is 20 degrees, people will dress for a chilly winter day only to realize that it is quite warm. Gas prices would go down, only to find out that so has the unit. And so on. But, once people get used to it, it will be so much easier to integrate volume, weight, and distance that it will be worth it. Just ask anyone who has lived in Canada or Europe for a significant period of time. Also, note that no nation has ever gone from metric to the US system. (Note that it used to be the English system, until England went metric in the 1960s.

We have adopted it as a second system, due to all the foreign stuff we have, Metric was derived from ten fingers to count things with. but we divide everything in half, again and again and again... for our standard system.

If you are brought up with it, it is certainly easier. But converting takes a long time - you just don't have the intuitive feel for the new system for a long time. But more and more of industry is converting, simply because more and more things are made for the world market rather than the US only. I( suspect the US will convert one day, but not necessarily soon.

It would make sense for me to, being that I am Swedish. I don't know, I am use to feet and inches.

Only if you are brought up with it, and some measurements(like those associated with things equestrian) never convert comfortably

America is adopting it, but it is a slow process. It has been required education in the public school system since at least the 70's. I can say that the system is intuitive for me in mathematics and the sciences, but not in day-to-day life. However, we are mixed. For instance, milk still comes in gallons, but I buy a 2 liter bottle of soda.

DON'T DO IT! We in Canada had a hell of a time with the transition, and that's the hard part. I was brought up 1/2 and 1/2 and it kills to try and convert all the time. I still pefer the Standard sytem because I'm used to it.

You know, come to think of it, maybe the metric system would be easier, because we base everything on 12ths, and the metric system is based on 10ths, and counting by 10s is easier in my book.

I don't see what being brought up with it has anything to bear. Canada adopted the metric system when I was 13 or 14. I use both, depending on the thing being measured and the person I'm speaking to. Knowing the equivalents isn't terribly difficult and metric is by far the easier of the two to use on a daily basis.

Is it not the tool of the devil?

People don't generally like change. Once they have been raised with a certain system it is very hard to convince them to do it another way. I think converting would just confuse many people and in the mean time the companies who package products would take advantage of this confusion and down size their products even more. I work in a grocery store and you would be amazed to see the incredible shrinking products and the price never lowers.

Yes. I think it is easier. I think the financial powers would collectively resist it. Change is expensive.

Mostly because it is a big job to change everything in the entire country over and the government hasn't pushed hard enough to get it done. It is easier and we do use it on some things. I use it exclusively in my job.

I think drublic has answered it correctly. it wasn't too difficult for a nation with a fairly small population like Australia to change over, but it would be a big task for the US.

Its because we're the US and we like to do EVERYTHING the hard way... for ex. Iraq.

G'day Horseboy64, Thank you for your question. I agree with you. In fact, I think that there were plans to move to the metric system in the 1970s but public attachment to the imperial system was too great. There was a similar phenomena in the UK. I think that the metric system is strongly established in the US scientific community. For example, NASA recently announced that it would use metric measures in all its work on the moon. I think it is a matter of gradually educating the general community of the metric system. Regards

It seems to me that many years ago one of the US presidents said that we would be using it by a certain year, so we would be more "world friendly." Somewhere along the line, they figured out we (US citizens) did not want that and it would also cost the government alot of money. When people go from a new month or year to the next and often forget when they write a check out what month or year it is, you can imagine how difficult it would be for the US to change over to metric!

Actually the U.S. use to use the metric system but we wanted to be different agian so they changed it

America tried to convert to the metric system in the 70's but to no avail. Why? I'd say because American sentiment forcefully perpetuates its uniqueness and superiority over everyone else. We're always told that America is #1, the land of the free, the home of the brave, the land of opportunity, the only superpower, the most powerful country in the world. So why should WE be the ones to convert to a much-easier system that everyone else uses? Just another example of how we separate ourselves from the world.

It is a difficult thing to change over and although Britain has been a member of the EEC for 35 years it has still only assimilated some of the metric system and that was under duress

As the first major English colony, the US has been deeply entrenched in the English system of weights and measures and this has been enured into the culture and even embedded in the American thought process such as Ben Franklin's saying 'An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure'. I am in favor of a gradual change over to a logical measurement system that is based on units of ten. I feel as the Baby Boomers become less of a factor in society and the gen X, Y, Z, etc. generations take precedence in the forefront, then there may be actions taken to change the way things are.

I wish they would - I'm pro Logic

They attempted to back in the 70's and started by teaching it in the schools in attempt to "gradually" introduce metric. However, they found it to be too difficult for students to pick up on and drpped it altogether. This was the attempt of changing the U.S. to the system recognized by most countries, and given up just as quickly, feeble as it was.

This question came up in the Pre-Algebra class I was teaching today. I told my students that they have to know both systems, though the metric system conversions are less complicated becuase it is easier to multiply or divide by multiples of 10. I mentioned that they go buy gallons of milk, but 2 liter bottles of soda. I remember hearing a while back that there was some legislation to change to the metric system, but it seems to have been ignored. I have tried justifying to my students why they have to learn metric, and they don't like the standard answers like - we use it in science, most of the rest of the world use metric so we should be comfortable with it, and because it is a requirement on state tests...they want other answers. Anyone have some ideas that would make a 15 year old think it is worth learning?

Because they are being silly about it : D The metric system is the most intuitive, simple, and easily usable... Everything in base 10 makes infinitely more sense than whatever Imperial uses : D If our number system is base 10, why not our measuring system?... ***** Anyway, they're getting there and thankfully pretty much everywhere else has already made the change.

Because it would cost many industries millions and millions of dollars to switch over. Besides if it's not broke why fix it.

Why would we? What we have now works just fine.

In my opinion as one who lived through the whole "Let's-convert-everything-over-to-the-metric-system-by-spending-a sh*tload-of-money-to-label-everything-in-the-whole-nation-with-both-english-and-metric-measurements-and-eventually-get-rid-of-the-old-english-system-in-a-few-years-as-we-phase-it-out-of-use" plan: BECAUSE WE'RE A BUNCH OF LAZY B*STARDS WHO WOULD RATHER SPEND SH*TLOADS OF MONEY IN HALF-*SSED ATTEMPTS AT DOING SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE EASIER, SOONER, AND CHEAPER! There. I said it. I feel better now.

I don't think America will ever change to the metric system. The country does not see the advantage of changing. America always remains a country which dares to be different.

In part because of sheer chauvinism and parochial mind. The metric system is easier, logical, almost universal and is based on some natural facts. For instance, do you know what is a pound? Costume tells you something because you know your weigh, but there is no connection between pounds and gallons or inches or degrees Fahrenheit. A kilo weighs the same as a litre, a litre is the same as a cubic decimetre and so forth. It is very silly to use ten digits in our daily lives, have our currency in tens but have to use fractions time and again.

Tis slow to adopt trendy fads ;)

Oh! You Americans are doing just fine at it!....