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Fall Back and Spring Forward Reducing Productivity: Money or Plain Stupidity?
By EconMatters
Every year Americans are forced to go through this arbitrary time change (aka DST- daylight saving time), just when their bodies finally adjust to the new time, they have to mess up their sleep schedules once again, and move time an hour ahead or behind for the sake of tradition. It is about time for a vote on this antiquated, outdated, and obviously absurd policy by the American Public.
Who cares who gets elected? Like that really makes a difference anyway! Republican or Democrat, they all are subject to lobbyists that ultimately sacrifice the American Public`s interests in the end for the sake of a powerful agenda. For example, Republicans screwed the American Public for the sake of the Midwestern farm lobby and got a ridiculous, non-market solution in an ethanol mandate. And the Democrats screwed the American Public for the sake of the Solar Industry, with a ridiculous, non-market solution for government backed alternative Energy mandates that don`t make any economic sense on their own merit.
But here is something that actually matters--let`s address this time change policy once and for all. I know farmers way back in the day supposedly benefited from this time change policy in helping them harvest their crops, why they couldn`t just get up an hour earlier instead of subjecting the entire nation to this ridiculous policy is beyond me. I am sure there are some other benefits that some group is supposedly benefitting from the status quo time policy.
However, my entire argument isn`t to say that there couldn`t possibly be some benefits from this policy, but rather these benefits are minimal when compared with the alternatives. So I will avoid any further discussion of this perspective, because the negative effects of constantly changing back in forth versus my solution for time policy isn`t even close.
Here is the solution: Split the difference between the two times, say 30 minutes, and leave this the time for the entire year. Enough said, and workers, students, and all Americans instantly become more productive, healthier contributing members to society. We develop more consistent sleeping routines. Americans have enough trouble establishing healthy sleep routines as it is without constantly adjusting the time twice a year. When you sleep better, your concentration is better; you perform better, are healthier, happier, and get more accomplished in the day. In short, you are a more productive human being. So let`s have a vote during the upcoming election on this very policy. I bet it gets past in a landslide.
So why hasn`t this been addressed by now. My guess is that money is involved. There is that old-adage that when in doubt, follow the money trail. There must be some financial incentives for somebody in keeping the ridiculous status quo in place all these years. Or just plain stupidity, it`s not like human beings don`t have a rather long history of believing, participating, and acting out some pretty ridiculous and short-sighted ideas about the external world. In fact, humanity has a rather long love affair with being very unenlightened on a lot of topics, why should time be any different. Maybe it is just tradition for the sake of tradition.
I don`t want to waste any more time thinking why the Time Change Policy is still in practice today. It is pointless in the end, if a truly superior alternative exits. So to reiterate I advocate splitting the difference between the two times, and making this the permanent time year round. It is a no-brainer, a simple concept that ensures consistency, and will increase in value as humans adapt to the new time. Five years of getting up at 6:00 am day after day, year after year will improve American`s sleeping patterns and make them healthier, more productive agents. It`s time for a real change, put this on the ballot in November, and let`s vote on this Time Change Policy!
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What is this strange foolishness you describe? Studies have shown that daylight savings time actually costs more than it saves. We in Arizona reasonably concluded that the rest of the world would refrain from provably inferior practices such as this.
Oops. Apparently, somebody does make money off of this, as it continues.
Where I live currently there is no daylight 'saving'. In mid-winter the sun comes up at 6:45 AM, in mid summer it comes up at about 5:15AM.
I cope with this minor difference in visibility and temperature via adjusting light switches and varying clothing.
As you can imagine, it's quite onerous. /s
Otherwise there's zero difference to what I actually do at that time, because I'm always up and working long before dawn anyway.
And frankly, I love that time of day the most ...er, time of night. Almost no traffic, noise or bustle, and anyone around is usually far more friendly and polite than during any other part of the day, there's always a smile or a greeting. Later in the day these same people won't even notice you, or will actively ignore you, because the bustle and time-stress destroys the natural tendency to sociability and mutural care and respect.
Not to mention that the early bird does get the worm.
What do worms taste like?
While they're at it, why not eliminate time zones as well? GST (Zulu time) is the only time that matters, for a variety of reasons.
I said bird! ;-)
I have had a wrist watch since I was 9 ... fuckers keep asking me what the time is!
I'm a memeber of the non-professional left and will be voting Green from now on. I would vote for the Pirate Party when the comes to Amerika. There hasn't been a 2 party system in place for a long time if ever. It's just the same kill the little people only one is doing it by a thousdand cuts and the other bat-shit-crazy-peoples-party would round the suspects up and do it now. Ike did warns us but then again corp. media won the day.
Good cover of the maddness that's called govt.
I vote to stop time for some, to slow it down and reverse it for others and basically to subject its function to a lottery of binding conditions which may or may not be voted on by way of social referendum.
The only people pushing standard time in Washington DC are the television moguls. It is essential to them that the sun goes down as soon as possible so that outdoor activites cease and people glue themselves to the television. Everyone else in the nation wants it light as late as possible so that they can work in the garden, engage in sports, and play with the kids in the yard after they get home after work. But no, we all suffer so the television broadcasters can make more money dumbing down the public.
Bureaucrats do have a lot of powers, but adjusting the time the sun is in the sky isn't one of them! I don't think you know how DST works. :>D
DST was Nixon's Energy Policy. It was supposed to reduce our dependence on imported oil.
Don't knock it, it is still the only energy policy we have.
This is just one of those rituals (in this case, a harmless one) that's designed to remind us who is in charge.
econmatters has gained new respect from me....it is about time someone objected to this totally assinine fucktarded imbicility of arbitrary time change....god bless you!!!
the same people who brought this policy brought us fluoridated water - another nazi import.
It is not about profit and loss or saving energy or the safety of children all of which have been proffered by Media and .gov It is all about keeping the Taxpaying, foundation stock of America off kilter, it works beautifully for the purpose. Tired, all around lethargic, struggling enough as it is with the designed economic changes over the last several decades. They want this certain demographic to A. not notice what is happening to them and B. be too distracted and tired to do anything about it.
You speak common sense.. We won't have that anymore!
It does have to do with money. It's really quite simple to figure out. Most people are at home during the hottest part of the day while DST is in effect. Government buildings and corporate offices can shut down or minimize the use of air-conditioning at these peak periods. Air-conditioning is the number 1 user of electricity - by far. Think about it.
If any group has a problem with the time of day, let them adjust their schedule accordingly.
Everyone else should be left alone. I always saw it as a petty demonstration of state power.
I guess being left alone is too much to ask.
I agree.
Takes me two weeks to even approach "normal" and my body knows something is messed up.
When I worked outdoors I could tell you the time within five minutes with no watch; of course, that got messed up every DST and it took me a month at least to get back in "rhythm".
There are claims of safety and energy savings but I'd bet the weeks after a change causes more problems than not.
Probably increases revenue for utility companies and is conditioning for the masses to get used to Big Brother dictating things.
It's not nice to fool with Mother Nature.
Some people can tell what time it is by looking at the sun; I can never see the numbers. :>D
Your body clock is working properly when you consistently wake up 10 seconds before the alarm clock goes off.
All that is behind it would be a government agency that is in charge of enforcing it does not want to lose its jobs. Also, the more people on the government welfare system the better for them, they're less likely to revolt as they are dependant. All is as planned by the central banker enslavement agency
Enforcement? When was the last time the Clock Police checked up on you? :>D
Yes, Daylight Savings Time is beyond absurd. As somebody above stated, if a farmer wants to capitalize on early morning daylight in the summer, or later evening light, let HIM adjust his schedule --- where is the point of having EVERYONE go through this irritating and pointless twice annual clock-raping nonsense?
But somehow, I suspect the real blame lies with running dog imperialist Chinese citizenism, and its inevitable temporal blobbing-up.
Agreed, the less food harvested and sold by one of the last actually productive groups in the country the quicker the useless non productive portion either coughs up enough money to sustain their useless carcasses or just dies off.
Ever tried picking food in the dark to get it to the market that day? No, you say? Quelle suprise.
Your argument is specious and nonsensical. What is to stop farmers from harvesting their crops WHENEVER THE HELL THEY CHOSE TO?? Why inconvience EVERYONE for the sake of a handful of the population who can, and must, set their own schedule anyway?
Your "point" was so stupid and clueless, I simply must ask: are you by chance a Keynesian economist, or a member of the Obama administration?
http://www.timeanddate.com/news/time/russia-winter-time.html
"The country will turn its clocks one hour forward for the last time on March 27 2011, making daylight saving time Russia's new standard time. This was announced amid new research showing that the yearly time adjustment is likely to effect a number of health problems. It has caused Russians "stress and illness" in the past, Medvedev stated: "It really disturbs the human biorhythm. It's just irritating."
It is irritating.
This article says « ... Split the difference between the two times, say 30 minutes ... »
Didn't Hugo Chávez do that in Venezuela, give Venezuela a time zone 30 minutes different from all the nearby countries around him?
Hugo Chávez is a heroic figure for surviving the US criminal schemes to overthrow and murder him, and for trying - however imperfectly - to give a better life to the common people of his country, to share the wealth a bit.
But it was when Chávez put his country on a time zone a half-hour different from his neighbouring countries, a giant pain in the butt for all concerned, that I finally began to think he was a little odd and even dictatorial ... this did not seem like 'Bolivarian solidarity' with other Latin American nations.
But it maybe it was the cancer growing inside of him.
I thought it had something to do with safety of kids going to school in daylight instead of darkness.
And with saving energy by better timing morning electrical demand with natural light.
But, WTF do I know. Follow the $.
Is this the April fool's day post?
Why even bother with time? Everyone up at sunrise! Oh, right, sunrisevaries depending on latitude and season.
The only agreeable point is the solution "is a no-brainer, a simple concept that ensures consistency."
I have been on a "crusade" to end DST for a while now. http://addins.waow.com/blogs/weather/tag/daylight-saving-time
He might have a point, or at least be withing sight of one. DST was established in the 19th century to make better use of daylight. As the days lengthen, both the forenoon and afternoon periods lengthen but some of the forenoon daylight hours are lost to sleep. The idea of DST was to make more hours of daylight available for use, especially to those who worked in offices and factories.
Now that we have artificial light, television, computers and computer games and no one goes outside anymore maybe DST is unnecessary.
'Americans have enough trouble establishing healthy sleep routines as it is without constantly adjusting the time twice a year. When you sleep better, your concentration is better; you perform better, are healthier, happier, and get more accomplished in the day. In short, you are a more productive human being. So let`s have a vote during the upcoming election on this very policy. I bet it gets past in a landslide.'
Sleep better? You're grasping at straws here fella. My guess is this kindergarten 'country' of ours relies on Ambien for a multitude of reasons, 'time change policy' being least of them.
As for productivity... well... it has never been greater depending on how you look at it. The way I see it, with half the population now working unlike a couple short decades ago, 'productivity' aka frightened hyper-activity has nowhere to go but child labor. Get those toddlers out of day-care centers and into the Ponzi pronto.