Commentary
Throughout our lives, we have been subjected to the disruptive practice of seasonal time changes. The concept of “spring forward, fall back” has been ingrained in us since childhood.
From an early age, we are told that we are extending daylight hours through these time changes. However, upon closer examination, it becomes clear that the extra light gained from a one-hour shift is simply borrowed from later in the day.
It is impossible for the government to magically make the day longer.
This situation can be likened to a humorous analogy often attributed to an “old Indian,” where cutting off one end of a blanket to sew it onto the other end does not actually make the blanket longer.
Most people I have encountered do not approve of this significant disruption to our sense of time. Preferences for either Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time vary depending on geographical location within a time zone. However, the consensus is that we should stick to one version of time and avoid drastic changes in the middle of the year.
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The transition to digital timekeeping has made adjusting to these changes more convenient. However, there are always a few clocks, like those in the kitchen or on the oven, that require manual adjustment, leading to unnecessary hassle twice a year.
In addition to the health consequences, there are often missed appointments due to the confusion caused by the time changes.
If the majority of people dislike this practice, why does it persist? The simple answer is inertia. It continues because it has always continued. Despite widespread public discontent with the practice, there is no significant lobbying effort to bring about change.
Forced seasonal time changes exemplify a system that perpetuates itself simply because there is no clear solution to end it, even though it is widely unpopular.
Fortunately, President Donald Trump has expressed opposition to Daylight Saving Time and has vowed to end it at the federal level. While states can choose to retain it if they wish, the prediction is that it will eventually be abolished altogether.
Interestingly, I find myself excited by this prospect. The confusion caused by the time changes affects not only children and adults but also pets. The origins of this practice during wartime to save energy and align daylight with munitions manufacturing purposes seem increasingly irrelevant.
The initial motivation behind this practice was rooted in a misguided belief in the ability of technology to manipulate natural phenomena. This attitude was prevalent during a period marked by significant advancements in various fields.
It is worth noting that the standardization of time in the United States faced significant opposition in the past, particularly from those who questioned the authority of industrial powers to dictate time for their own benefit.
Prior to the implementation of time zones, each town determined its local time based on when the sun was directly overhead. The advent of railroads played a pivotal role in the establishment of standardized time zones, leading to a disconnect between human timekeeping and natural time cues.
This shift marked a departure from relying on natural patterns to regulate daily life, in favor of industrial efficiency.
Reflecting on this historical context, it is evident that the imposition of standardized time zones was driven by intellectual arrogance and commercial interests. It is likely that I would have been among those who resisted this change if I had lived during that era.
I encourage you to explore this further and contemplate the significance of these historical shifts in our perception of time.
If you’re feeling rebellious, why not start following your local time just for fun? Say goodbye to railroad time and embrace the local time instead!
In today’s world, it’s refreshing to see people rethinking established norms. From removing fluoride from water supplies to the movement to abolish Daylight Saving Time, there’s a sense of progress and change in the air.
But why stop at just getting rid of Daylight Saving Time? Let’s take it a step further and challenge the concept of time zones themselves. They are artificial constructs that cause division and confusion. The true measure of time has always been the position of the sun in the sky – high noon is when the sun is directly overhead.
With modern technology, we have the tools to accurately determine the time anywhere in the world. By embracing Coordinated Universal Time for scheduling purposes, we can simplify our lives and eliminate the need for time changes altogether.
The history of government intervention in timekeeping has been a series of misguided attempts to fix past mistakes. Repealing Daylight Saving Time is a step in the right direction towards returning to a more natural and logical way of keeping time.
Perhaps one day, we won’t have to spring forward or fall back anymore. What a relief that would be! Let’s embrace real time and make our lives simpler and more in tune with the natural world.
(Note: The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Epoch Times.)
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