Re: One DoD programmer's hostility towards Ada and the Mandate

[pacbell.com!att-out!cbnewsj!cbnewsi!cbnewsh!cbnewse!cbnewsd!cbnewsc!cbfsb !cbnews!cbnewst!cbnewsm!cbnewsl!willett@decwrl.dec.com (david.c.willett)]

>From article <26guhl$jni@schonberg.cs.nyu.edu>, by dewar@cs.nyu.edu (Robert De
war):
> There was not, and has never been, a "mandate" for the US to convert to
> metric measures. The issue has often been discussed, but as a result of
> popular opposition (and blatant ignorance on the part of our politicians,
> the transcripts of the hearings make amusing reading), no legislation
> was ever passed that I am aware of.
> 
> Anyone know enough to contradict this?
> 
>

I don't *know* for sure, but I seem to remember requirements in Federal 
Highway funding bills to include metric distances in all new highway 
mileage markers.  I also believe it was a DOT requirement that the
speedometers of new vehicles show both English & metric speeds.  Not
sure if the later was required by law, or just a DOT regulation.

Let me tie this back into Ada by submitting that the US Federal Govt. is
so large and powerful that it can compel individuals or companies to do
things (or refrain from doing them) in a variety of ways.  Perhaps some
investigation into the meaning of an appropriate "mandate" is in order.
I believe Feldman et. al. have already made this suggestion.

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Dave Willett          AT&T Federal Systems Advanced Technologies

The biggest mistake you can make is to believe that you work for someone else.
			
			-- Anonymous