Each of the three subgroups had higher percentages of firms which believed that increased metric usage is in the best interests of the U.S. than did the total sample population. All three also had much smaller percentages of firms which gave "Don't Know" responses. Those firms which had foreign licensees and subsidiaries and those currently using metric goods and equipment stood out with approximately 34 or more of each group advocating increased metric usage for the U.S. Is Increased Metric Usage In The Best Interest of The U.S.? Again, those firms where designated respondents had exhibited greater knowledge about the metric system expressed more favorable opinions about use of the metric system in the U.S. The differences between these groups are quite striking: In summary, a majority of firms in all size classes and in all industry groups said that they felt increased metric usage is in the best interests of the United States. More than 3 of the members of each of the special interest groups with the greatest knowledge of metric measurements and the greatest contacts with metric countries expressed this opinion. TABLE 117A, B & C Q. IV-28 If it is found that metric usage is in the best interests of the U.S., which of the following courses of action, in your opinion, is preferable? All employer size groups showed a majority preferring a mandatory rather than a voluntary national metrication program. PREFERRED COURSE OF ACTION IF METRIC USAGE IS FOUND TO BE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE U.S. (BY SIZE CLASS) (Table 117) Preferred Course of Action 70 20 No industry in this sample recorded a majority in favor of anything but a mandatory national program. Inspection of the figure for table 117B (p. 162) will show that: Those who said "Never" to metrication "voted" most frequently for a totally voluntary changeover with no national program. Only 11 percent of this group conceded that increased use of metric measurements was in the best interests of the U.S. The "Never" group, it will be remembered, was constituted of 44 spokesmen, or less than 2 percent of the population surveyed. These respondents were concentrated in the Wholesale and Retail Trades and the Construction industries. The three subgroups of interest were again compared with the total sample population in the text table below. Preferred Course of Action if Increased Metric is Found to be in Best Interests of the U.S. The proportions of respondents expressing each opinion were remarkably similar among these three special subgroups and also to the proportions found in the total population. Despite the large differences in attitude expressed in the two previous questions, all groups favored a mandatory program based on legislation, if metrication should come. The text table below shows the cross-tabulation of "metric definition" with In summary, more than three-fourths of the total sample favored nationally |