The Death of Daylight Savings?

In the US, we have this crazy time switch that occurs every Spring and Fall, known inaccurately as Daylight Savings Time. Each March, we “spring ahead,” setting our clocks ahead one hour shortly after the witching hour of a new week. Come October, we then “fall back” into non-DST time.

Although the human race has adjusted to the shifting daylight, the DST that most Americans have come to know more as a reason to show up late or early for work was formerly adopted in 1918. Many reasons exist for the adoption of DST, mainly related to actually reducing energy consumption and accommodating an agricultural-based society. Ben Franklin was a primary proponent for the practicing, citing high savings on the fuel used for lighting. What was it ole Ben said? “Early to bed, early to wise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”

Our world is different these days, and a recent intensive study performed by the University of California has shown that DST actually does the opposite of providing any sort of savings. In fact, the opposite is true. (To read the article, click here.)

Ever since its inception, DST has received many calls for its discontinuation. In our current society, it only makes sense to do away with DST. Think about how many people actually work a 9-5 job. Not as many as we would be led to believe. Shifts range round the clock, and the increase in international work schedules makes time of day or daylight irrelevant.

Perhaps most relevant is the current US recession (which economists can’t seem to agree upon). With the dollar already stretched to its limits, this costly and useless practice erroneously known as Daylight SAVINGS Time may finally wind up on the chopping block.