Referring to this column:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1079/whats-the-purpose-of-daylight-saving-time
Couldn’t find discussion, only the column itself, but as this time of year grows closer to the short dark days of winter, I was wondering. Also, I just spent 3 weeks in Spain then returned to Vienna. Same time zone, but sunrise about 2 hours later in Spain.
Is there still a viable reason for Daylight Savings Time?
It is not really an American farmer’s issue or school kiddies safety aid, or is it?
IMO, it doesn’t matter what “time zone” we’re supposedly in, I just get fed up with the hassle and confusion associated with the switching around.
Standard, daylight, split the difference, pick something else altogether, I really don’t care, just pick something and STICK WITH IT!!!
I rise by the sun and sleep when I get tired. But I am lucky. I will know the change has happened when my computer and atomic wall clock tell me that it has.
The rationales behind DST are well documented. Energy conservation appears to be the primary cause for this oddity.
There was one year (1977?) when the US tried it all year long but the push-back from parents having to send their children to the school bus stop in predawn winter darkness was a factor in its repeal.