Posted on 02/18/2002 4:03:33 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
Edited on 04/13/2004 2:39:38 AM PDT by Jim Robinson. [history]
LONDON (AP) -- A court ruled Monday that five grocers do not have the right to sell fruit and vegetables in pounds and ounces -- a decision their supporters said marked the "death of democracy."
Lawyers for the five -- dubbed the "metric martyrs" -- had argued that England and Wales should be exempt from European Union rules requiring produce to be labeled in grams and kilograms rather than in imperial measures.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The Brits will live to regret the day they gave this unholy superstate power over their lives. Well, some of them will, maybe.
Why?
Sure, it makes sense to standardize things like machine screw threads and hex wrenches, so parts and tools will be interchangeable and hardware stores won't have to stock two sets of everything. But what on earth is the harm in selling a pound of bananas or a pint of beer?
What earthly good did it do for American consumers to require that bottlers must sell whiskey in 3/4 liter bottles?
F#*% that! I like my fathoms.;-)
'Metric martyrs' cannot sell in lbs and ozs
By John Aston, PA News, 18 February 2002
Five market traders – the so–called metric martyrs – today lost their High Court battle for the legal right to trade in pounds and ounces.
Regarless of my earlier statement, it is rather daft to have these men face criminal charges.
Read the article carefully, no one is being forced to sell in metric only, imperial measures may be used as well, but metric must be displayed as well.
It is possible to view this issue as a government insisiting that uniuform weights and measures be used, something that all but the staunchest libertarians would agree is within a government's authority. The metric martyrs are seeking a political cause and to score points against the EU.
I don't want to get into whether the EU is good or bad, it was the decision of the British Parliament to first join the EU and then to adopt the metric legislation. If the UK does not want EU regulation, it usually opts out (you can't spend Euros in Britain).
Finally, the last time I was in London, a publican was happy to serve me a pint of bitter, just like always!
When one reads the article, the grocers are arguing that this act was forced on them by unelected bureaucrats, however, But the judges agreed with earlier rulings that a European Union directive -- later adopted by Parliament -- requires loose goods to be sold in metric measures. Don't the Brits elect their leaders in Parliament? I thought they did, but perhaps things have changed?
And you're absolutely right about the fact that they are not being forced to give up the imperial system, but are being required to use both the imperial and the metric. What is the harm in using both systems?
My post was more to point out that Americans are complaining about something that the US Federal government requires of its own member states.
Hate to be the one tell you this but you really need to read up on the UN and NWO.
As an electrician, I see metrics overunning our code book. In addition, lots of european logic creeping in, and changing our standards to line up with theirs. Get back to me in a week after your read on this bone-chilling reading journey. I'm extremely grateful FR carries the true information on these groups.
In addition check out "http://www.klamathbasincrisis.org This will help explain how the ground is stolen (or efforts made to) from American citizens and returned to the government or set up to be given to the UN (thank The Nature Conservancy).
Nothing in the world of politics happens by accident.
The US, as a sovereign nation, does not have to accept UN policies, especially since the UN cannot do much without them, enforcement wise. If the US is accepting UN policies, and you don't like it, then perhaps you should look into changing your leaders.
This thread is about Britain, a member of the EU, who has accepted the policy of using the metric system and is no attempting to enforce it.
So, why are tire diameters shown in inches, and tire widths in mm.?
In 1984 by Orwell, there is a scene when a pub drinker expresses his ire over the demise of the pint. Liter too much, half-liter too little, but the pint had been just right. Shouldn't listen to the French...
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