Chafee says the U.S. doesn’t measure up

Most presidential candidates use their announcement speeches to describe their American roots and their affinity for American things such as religious liberty (Ted Cruz) and discount clothing chains (Scott Walker). Lincoln Chafee, former governor of Rhode Island, announced his long-shot Democratic candidacy with a plea for America to switch to the metric system — as Canada did in the 1970s, when he was working as a farrier at Alberta harness racetracks.

“I happened to live in Canada. And they’ve completed the process. Believe me, it’s easy,” Chafee said.