Daylight Savings Time solution
There is a solution to the daylight savings time (DST) problem that should satisfy all reasonable concerns. One final, but
different
type of change in the spring of 2021 could be the end of this twice a year habit. Instead of changing the clocks to make "high noon" at "high One", key businesses would shift their working hours by one hour on that Monday morning
permanently
. Presenting a radical idea will immediately turn off many people to the concept, but like the Fosbury Flop, radical ideas are often the best all-around solution.
The problem
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Shifting the clock is often associated with problems like loss of sleep, accidents, depression, and even miscarriages and suicide.
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Daylight savings time puts "high noon" at roughly "high one" part of the year.
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Daylight savings time is more likely to put kids in the situation of walking to school, or to the school bus, in the dark. Daylight savings time is "morning light loosing time"
Reasons for daylight savings time
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People like the extra hour of outside activities after work.
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Some claim energy use reductions. For example, if people are outside doing activities in the afternoon sun, they won't be inside turning on the lights.
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"Benjamin Franklin thought of it and he's really smart"
New idea, all problems addressed
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Eliminating the semiannual clock shift will solve the accidents and other associated problems.
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Setting the amount of daylight time after work the same as that obtained during daylight savings time will satisfy the DST advocates, except for maybe the ones who make the Benjamin Franklin comment.
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Keeping the clock at standard time will keep high noon correct, and morning walk to school hours better lit.
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The big remaining variable:
Working hours for key businesses
. Many businesses work around the clock, or are at least extended into two shifts, so they may not play a role here, but there are still traditional businesses who "set the clock" for when things happen. For example, the NYSE and NASDAQ are open 9:30am-4 pm. In the spring of 2021, their schedule would change to 8:30-3 pm
permanently
. The same shift would happen for government operations, banks, and other similar businesses. I can already hear the replies now, "No way am I going to come in an hour early, that is ridiculous!" But you are already doing that the Monday after DST starts, then only difference is that your clock will show you are waking up earlier. In the past you faked yourself out by setting your clock forward on Saturday night and got up an hour earlier. But it this case, the schedule will be fixed from that point on.
With this plan, the only law changes required would be those needed to terminate the semiannual shift. But what about the "hours of operation" sign changes that need to be made? This sounds like a pretty minor investment, with a payback possibly as short as six months. The other important ingredient for success is cooperation from key businesses. No one would be forced to change their hours. We would just need enough for "critical mass" to change. Now who could lead these key businesses into this change?....