We’re back on Earth Time – standard time – and many people are less than pleased. They think we should maintain daylight savings time year-round.
Oklahoma is one of 19 states that have passed resolutions or legislation calling to “lock the clock on DST. U.S. Sen. James Lankford repeatedly introduces federal legislation to that effect. Is there a better example of human hubris than this desire to demand that Nature conform to our whims instead of us adapting to the natural world? Advocates say the move would boost the economy – and nothing is more sacred to Americans than making an extra buck.
Every sundial in the world tells when it is High Noon –not High One. I, too, have estimated the time from the Sun’s location, a forearm serving as my hour hand. That discovery of the absence of a midday shadow was an early scientific realization.
Another argument for ignoring our historical tradition is convenience. But, convenient for whom? With the early month switch to standard time, Earth turned toward the Sun earlier according to our clocks. The skies now darken earlier in the evening.
More daylight early; less daylight later. Except it is the same amount of daylight minus about four minutes a day until the process begins reversing at the Winter Solstice.
Standard time favors early risers. DST advocates would penalize them for their own benefit. Why should the DST cult get preferential treatment – opposing centuries of common sense awareness?
Sounds sort of selfish, a bit high-falutin’ to act as if the turning of Earth should be subservient to their desires – especially when the DSTers could adjust their own schedules to suit themselves.
Do you want more daylight when you get off work? Go to work earlier. That is a more readily available option in these post-pandemic days when flexible schedules have become more common. Change your routine. Don’t make the rest of us change ours to accommodate you.
I flex-worked my way through most of my checkered work history. As a reporter, I would often take off afternoons in anticipation of night meetings or sporting events. And, sometimes I would go to the office and write up the stories that night. And, since no publisher likes to pay overtime, I would flex on out of the office the next afternoon.
(The worst story I ever wrote happened when I dropped by the office, decided to write the story the next day, only to arrive the next morning with not one of my notes to be found – my only interview with a Texas governor with nary a quote.)
Desk duty for afternoon papers meant arriving early and leaving early. As an editor (management), I would hang around a little later.
Between my newspaper tenures, I actually accumulated more years total in the educational audio-visual business. At Educational Video Network (and Educational Filmstrips which preceded it), our work schedule was basically, “get the job done.” I could go in early enough to catch Sam Houston baseball in the afternoons. Or circle back later to finish whatever project I had or lend a hand in other departments.
Sure, George and Kenneth Russell were more enlightened than most – in a lot of areas – but the success of the operation has plagued Huntsville oligarchs for decades. The point here is that: “It can be done.” People can adapt to Nature instead of insisting that Nature – and the rest of the world – adapt to their choices.
My working days started in the ‘70s in Texas. I grew up in Indiana which has split time zones. The northeast corner (Chicago Land) and the southwest toe boast 12 counties in the Central Time Zone. Indianapolis and 92 counties register in the Eastern.
Seems like things were a bit more muddled back in the ‘50s and ‘60s. But, that might just be because my Mobil pipeliner dad was tied to the Central Time Zone in Dallas, where Pegasus dominated the skyline.
But, whatever confusions arose just above my state of awareness were surmountable. And they would be still with a little more individual effort and more respect for Mother Nature.
(Gary Edmondson is chair of the Stephens County Democratic Party.)