Metrication

[TXtoNJ]

I... um...  clearly do not understand China.

Think about it in terms of practicality. Similar issues may be addressed on different levels, but not WAY different levels.
Managing 1 billion (China) or 0.3 billion (US) lives from a single location is impossible, there have to be levels of government. Those on a more local  scale should have power to make things happen locally. How those powers are delegated (originally local or delegated from the center), and how office holders (elected or appointed) is another story. 
House water and sewer have to be addressed at municipal to small regional level.  There may be some common denominators set by high level government, but location of the trench for the pipe is determined or approved by municipality,  maybe county - or their equivalents.  Vital records used to be local, but went up the scale once communications allowed  and increased travel required that.

Yep. The main difference is that the overall goal of American government is to manage individual property rights and promote the increased value thereof, while the overall goal of the PRC government is to manage the transition from socialism to communism through the required historical phases per Marxist-Leninist-Maoist analysis. The oppositional nature of those goals, along with the vastly different institutional histories of both countries, account for most of the structural differences.

[kalvado]

I... um...  clearly do not understand China.

Think about it in terms of practicality. Similar issues may be addressed on different levels, but not WAY different levels.
Managing 1 billion (China) or 0.3 billion (US) lives from a single location is impossible, there have to be levels of government. Those on a more local  scale should have power to make things happen locally. How those powers are delegated (originally local or delegated from the center), and how office holders (elected or appointed) is another story. 
House water and sewer have to be addressed at municipal to small regional level.  There may be some common denominators set by high level government, but location of the trench for the pipe is determined or approved by municipality,  maybe county - or their equivalents.  Vital records used to be local, but went up the scale once communications allowed  and increased travel required that.

Yep. The main difference is that the overall goal of American government is to manage individual property rights and promote the increased value thereof, while the overall goal of the PRC government is to manage the transition from socialism to communism through the required historical phases per Marxist-Leninist-Maoist analysis. The oppositional nature of those goals, along with the vastly different institutional histories of both countries, account for most of the structural differences.

One thing in common between two of these goals - both are basically pure propaganda....

[mgk920]

Sales taxes are regressive and hurt the poor far more than an income tax with closed loopholes. Trust me, WA is ranked number 1 in tax inequality because almost all our revenue comes from sales and consumption tax.

Then I'll gladly forward my annual accounting bills for complying with the 16th Amendment to you - they are INCREDIBLY regressive! 

Mike

[Scott5114]

Sales taxes are regressive and hurt the poor far more than an income tax with closed loopholes. Trust me, WA is ranked number 1 in tax inequality because almost all our revenue comes from sales and consumption tax.

Then I'll gladly forward my annual accounting bills for complying with the 16th Amendment to you - they are INCREDIBLY regressive! 

Mike

I'm not sure whether you don't know what the word 'regressive' means in the context of tax policy, or if you do and you're making a subtle political point.

[TXtoNJ]

The most bizarre thing about the US is how tax avoidance is seen as patriotic, rather than beneficial but somewhat shameful

[Brandon]

The most bizarre thing about the US is how tax avoidance is seen as patriotic, rather than beneficial but somewhat shameful

Then I strongly suggest you read up on some histories of the Revolution and prelude to the Revolution to understand why.

[TXtoNJ]

The most bizarre thing about the US is how tax avoidance is seen as patriotic, rather than beneficial but somewhat shameful

Then I strongly suggest you read up on some histories of the Revolution and prelude to the Revolution to understand why.

Unlike you, I don't see those motives as primarily high-minded, fancy prose though they may be cloaked in.

[Rothman]

The most bizarre thing about the US is how tax avoidance is seen as patriotic, rather than beneficial but somewhat shameful

Then I strongly suggest you read up on some histories of the Revolution and prelude to the Revolution to understand why.

Because Washington didn't want to pay for the war he escalated on his own?

[Poiponen13]

Some things that are measured in imperial today will be measured in metric in 2033.

[MikeTheActuary]

Some things that are measured in imperial today will be measured in metric in 2033.

But in the US, speed limits will continue to be in miles per hour, standard paper sizes will continue to be 8½ × 11 inches, weather reports to the public will continue to use Fahrenheit.....

The only way the US will abandon American customary is if the government is taken over by a foreign authoritarian regime that forces a change...and even then, there will be people who stubbornly continue to use customary measures.

[Brandon]

The most bizarre thing about the US is how tax avoidance is seen as patriotic, rather than beneficial but somewhat shameful

Then I strongly suggest you read up on some histories of the Revolution and prelude to the Revolution to understand why.

Unlike you, I don't see those motives as primarily high-minded, fancy prose though they may be cloaked in.

I never said anything to that point.  I'm telling you to look up the "why", whether you agree/disagree with the "why".

[Brandon]

Some things that are measured in imperial today will be measured in metric in 2033.

But in the US, speed limits will continue to be in miles per hour, standard paper sizes will continue to be 8½ × 11 inches, weather reports to the public will continue to use Fahrenheit.....

The only way the US will abandon American customary is if the government is taken over by a foreign authoritarian regime that forces a change...and even then, there will be people who stubbornly continue to use customary measures.

For a comparison, see Canada, western Canada far more so than eastern Canada.  It's stunning the number of the distances given by private and semi-private entities in feet first, meters later.  Signs for farms in miles, and sizes given in acres.  Only the governments seem to use hectares.  Shoot, even the lady at the welcome center in western Manitoba on the TCH talked about a time change 2 miles west at the Saskatchewan border.

[Poiponen13]

Some things that are measured in imperial today will be measured in metric in 2033.

But in the US, speed limits will continue to be in miles per hour, standard paper sizes will continue to be 8½ × 11 inches, weather reports to the public will continue to use Fahrenheit.....

The only way the US will abandon American customary is if the government is taken over by a foreign authoritarian regime that forces a change...and even then, there will be people who stubbornly continue to use customary measures.

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

[GaryV]

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

You mean your Finnish weather reports? Don't they do that already?

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

[Poiponen13]

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

You mean your Finnish weather reports? Don't they do that already?

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

Because Celsius is used in most countries in weather reports, so why not in US too?

[kphoger]

Only the governments seem to use hectares.

And this is what would happen if the US government decided the US should go metric.  Only the government would be bothered to use it.  That's why, in Canada, especially western Canada, metric is most likely to be found in contexts that have government involvement.

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

Because Celsius is used in most countries in weather reports, so why not in US too?

Your response did not answer the question that was asked.  The question was this:  why do you care?

I, for instance, don't care one bit what units they use in Finland to measure the outdoor temperature.  Why should I?

[1995hoo]

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

You mean your Finnish weather reports? Don't they do that already?

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

Because Celsius is used in most countries in weather reports, so why not in US too?

That's not a valid reason. People here don't want Celsius. That's enough reason, and it's certainly valid because it behooves TV weathermen to use the units their viewers want them to use. If you don't like it, too bad.

[Poiponen13]

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

You mean your Finnish weather reports? Don't they do that already?

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

Because Celsius is used in most countries in weather reports, so why not in US too?

That's not a valid reason. People here don't want Celsius. That's enough reason, and it's certainly valid because it behooves TV weathermen to use the units their viewers want them to use. If you don't like it, too bad.

I would want Celsius if I lived there.

[Scott5114]

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

You mean your Finnish weather reports? Don't they do that already?

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

Because Celsius is used in most countries in weather reports, so why not in US too?

That's not a valid reason. People here don't want Celsius. That's enough reason, and it's certainly valid because it behooves TV weathermen to use the units their viewers want them to use. If you don't like it, too bad.

I would want Celsius if I lived there.

So if you lived in the Oklahoma City media market, that would mean 712,629 households in the media market would want °F and 1 would want °C.

If you're the program director at KWTV and you tell them to broadcast in °C with those numbers, you're a damn terrible businessman.

[thspfc]

I would want Celsius if I lived there.

So if you lived in the Oklahoma City media market, that would mean 712,629 households in the media market would want °F and 1 would want °C.

If you're the program director at KWTV and you tell them to broadcast in °C with those numbers, you're a damn terrible businessman.

Ironic

[1995hoo]

It would be very nice to see weather reports using Celsius someday. Maybe in 2048.

You mean your Finnish weather reports? Don't they do that already?

Why do you care what American weather reports say?

Because Celsius is used in most countries in weather reports, so why not in US too?

That's not a valid reason. People here don't want Celsius. That's enough reason, and it's certainly valid because it behooves TV weathermen to use the units their viewers want them to use. If you don't like it, too bad.

I would want Celsius if I lived there.

Somehow I don't think the guy on Channel 4 is going to change to Celsius if I send him a message saying some troll who says he's from Finland likes Celsius better and would want that unit used if he lived here.

[kphoger]

I would want Celsius if I lived there.

So if you lived in the Oklahoma City media market, that would mean 712,629 households in the media market would want °F and 1 would want °C.

Hey, now, be fair!  Be accurate.  More like 712,216 households would want °F and 414 would want °C.   

[Big John]

I would want Celsius if I lived there.

So if you lived in the Oklahoma City media market, that would mean 712,629 households in the media market would want °F and 1 would want °C.

Hey, now, be fair!  Be accurate.  More like 712,216 households would want °F and 414 would want °C.   

actually -273

[algorerhythms]

Considering some of the students I taught at the University of Oklahoma came in not knowing that millimeters and centimeters are different units, let alone the difference between them, I don't know if Oklahoma is a good example to follow...

[kalvado]

Considering some of the students I taught at the University of Oklahoma came in not knowing that millimeters and centimeters are different units, let alone the difference between them, I don't know if Oklahoma is a good example to follow...

you may have some inappropriately high expectations for US schools (based on my NY experience)