Comments on: How others see us - an Australian view http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/ Commentary on the measurement muddle in the UK Tue, 06 Jan 2009 10:46:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Dave Brown http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7358 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 14:37:13 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7358 On what evidence does Mr Kinnock make the statement that the UK is "a modern, multi-cultural, dynamic place where the past is valued and respected and the future is approached with creativity and confidence.” My experience, in England at least, is of a xenophobic, backward-looking nation, obsessed by a war we fought 60 years ago, an empire we lost 50 years ago, a football match we played 40 years ago and a measurement system that the rest of the world dumped 30 years ago. If we really are a modern, dynamic country with a place in the globalised world future, we need to demonstrate a commitment to that vision with actions rather than words. Completing the metrication project, even 3 decades late, would be a good place start! <blockquote><em>[In fairness, Neil Kinnock didn't actually say that. He was saying that imperial road signs "contradict the image" etc  -  Ed] </em></blockquote> On what evidence does Mr Kinnock make the statement that the UK is “a modern, multi-cultural, dynamic place where the past is valued and respected and the future is approached with creativity and confidence.” My experience, in England at least, is of a xenophobic, backward-looking nation, obsessed by a war we fought 60 years ago, an empire we lost 50 years ago, a football match we played 40 years ago and a measurement system that the rest of the world dumped 30 years ago. If we really are a modern, dynamic country with a place in the globalised world future, we need to demonstrate a commitment to that vision with actions rather than words. Completing the metrication project, even 3 decades late, would be a good place start!

[In fairness, Neil Kinnock didn’t actually say that. He was saying that imperial road signs “contradict the image” etc  -  Ed]

]]> by: Robert http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7229 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:37:17 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7229 Rupert Murdoch was an Australian. He gave up Australian citizenship some years ago to become an American to get around foreign ownership rules in the USA. Murdoch hates the EU because they will stand up to him and demand competition. Rupert Murdoch was an Australian. He gave up Australian citizenship some years ago to become an American to get around foreign ownership rules in the USA.

Murdoch hates the EU because they will stand up to him and demand competition.

]]> by: Seares http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7216 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 21:34:31 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7216 The reason the government is dilatory (is that the word?) is that politicians are afraid of an Australian, Rupert Murdoch, who runs (well did until he handed over to his son) several influential newspapers in the UK - one a "serious" and one a "red top" tabloid. For some reason, Murdoch is an imperialist lover and change hater, particularly if it's anything to do with Europe. The metric system comes under that classification, unjustly. Maybe he's jealous, as Oz has gone and done the proper thing. We could and should change, and kow-towing to press barons and their voiciferous nutty supporters should not happen. The reason the government is dilatory (is that the word?) is that politicians are afraid of an Australian, Rupert Murdoch, who runs (well did until he handed over to his son) several influential newspapers in the UK - one a “serious” and one a “red top” tabloid. For some reason, Murdoch is an imperialist lover and change hater, particularly if it’s anything to do with Europe. The metric system comes under that classification, unjustly. Maybe he’s jealous, as Oz has gone and done the proper thing. We could and should change, and kow-towing to press barons and their voiciferous nutty supporters should not happen.

]]> by: philh http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7162 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 00:03:45 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2007/12/08/how-others-see-us-an-australian-view/#comment-7162 Politicians like Alistair Darling think they are being clever when they behave like that. But then they wonder why the British are so apathetic at election time. I'm not so naive as to expect them to be angels, but surely it is a part of their job to stimulate and respond to reasonable debate. I have yet to hear a single solid and sensible reason why Britain should not contemplate ending the nonsense over measurement units which so many people seem to acknowledge as a reasonable objective. Even if we accept the grossly inflated short term cost that DfT have implanted in the mind of the public, where is the balance with the longer term gain? Politicians like Alistair Darling think they are being clever when they behave like that. But then they wonder why the British are so apathetic at election time.

I’m not so naive as to expect them to be angels, but surely it is a part of their job to stimulate and respond to reasonable debate.

I have yet to hear a single solid and sensible reason why Britain should not contemplate ending the nonsense over measurement units which so many people seem to acknowledge as a reasonable objective. Even if we accept the grossly inflated short term cost that DfT have implanted in the mind of the public, where is the balance with the longer term gain?

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