Jim Lindgren wants the sun to set later, but Eugene Volokh just wants more daylight, period. I'd prefer the latter but I'll settle for the former, and I like Mr. Lindgren's proposal to shift the clock an hour ahead permanently and another hour ahead in the summer. Who needs sunlight at 6am? Fewer than 2% of Americans are farmers.
Update:
Here's a nifty page with a history of daylight savings time and standard time in general. I love this sort of trivia:
Time zone boundaries have changed greatly since their original introduction and changes still occasionally occur. The Department of Transportation conducts rulemakings to consider requests for changes. Generally, time zone boundaries have tended to shift westward. Places on the eastern edge of a time zone can effectively move sunset an hour later (by the clock) by shifting to the time zone immediately to their east. If they do so, the boundary of that zone is locally shifted to the west; the accumulation of such changes results in the long-term westward trend.
MW said: "Fewer than 2% of Americans are farmers."
And that's unfortunate. I have a lot of respect for farmers... and those people who grew up on them. Growing up on a farm teaches responsibility, among other things.
I grew up on a farm. Respect my authori-ta!
Yes tis that unfortunate that a job that used to require the participation of 90+% of the population as been made so efficient, the majority of that work force can turn and focus their engries on other pursuits. Other things can teach responsibility, first thing that comes to mind are parents.
I don't mind sunlight at 6am and I'm not a farmer!
DD: If there's anything I respect you for, that's not it.
tP: No one is disputing the efficiencies that have been created over time... and never have I said that farming is the only thing that can teach responsibility.
The dwindling number of farms and farmers is unfortunate for sentimental reasons... not practical ones.
Boo hiss.
I would prefer do away with DST all together. The difference between waking up to sunlight or waking up to an alarm clock is like night and day. Right now I get up naturally at 7! And when I'm awake, I'm actually awake! I'll gladly give up an hour after work for that.
I'm not sure that Lindgren is right about Texas. Geographically, most of Texas is with central time zone states. Only the western portion south of New Mexico is odd.
Mark: It's also sad that the buggy whip salesmen were put out of business by the automobile.
MW: Buggy whip salesmen are not like farmers... nor is there any heritage behind buggy whips.
Mike- you also forgot the shit shovelers who had to clean the streets of all the horse manure that the buggies generated. it was also quite a hit for the horse breeding industry, glue industry, fertilizer industry, dog food industry....
Mark: Spoken like a true anti-whip-ite!
MW: Well, if by that you mean someone who doesn't get into whips and the whole S&M thing... you're right. I don't get into those things.