PEOPLE

People

The Southeast Missourian asked people how they felt about the United States accelerating its ongoing conversion to the metric system. About 30 percent of U.S. products are now metric.

Jenny Adams: "It should probably go faster. I think the hardest part would be figuring how many kilometers instead of miles it would be to some place. They should put up new road signs all at once that show both. People would learn it quicker if they have to deal with it."

Sandy Glueck: "I think we should all stay at a steady pace, but not too fast, with converting over to the metric system because it will be hard for a lot of people. I don't use metric too much. For instance, in the kitchen I prefer cups and half cups."

James Wills: "It's going fast enough. I think there are certain things we should use the metric table on, and some things we should not. Regular measurements, like for construction work, should stay the same because that's what everybody knows. I think highway signs should stay miles per hour."

Michael Stites: "Since we made a commitment to convert, I think we should step up the pace. As Americans, we think that what we do is the best, so any change toward anything that isn't initiated here is viewed with skepticism. If we move, it's begrudgingly."

Andy Kaempfer: "I don't think we should step it up, but it's going to happen. I think we're getting more prepared for metric in school. It's easier to do smaller measurements with metric, such as what you do in higher math classes. In chemistry, you use liters. We need to build slowly toward metric."

Jill Smirl: "I think for people my age and older, going metric is going to blow us all away. With the grade school kids, it will grow with them. If it comes too quickly, everybody is going to be lost. A lot of people resist change, so a gradual progression is the way to go."