Written by Melody Nowowiejski – The idea of Daylight Saving Time is often attributed to Benjamin Franklin and its purpose generally believed to be based in the agricultural nature of our nation for much of our history. While it’s true that Mr. Franklin penned such a suggestion, it was intended as a joke and had more to do with his desire for more sleep. As for the agrarian rationale, farmers were never meant to be the main beneficiaries of the time change concept.
The original campaigner of instituting a time change during the summer months was an Englishman named William Willett and the purpose was the pure enjoyment of extra daylight, certainly a rarity in that part of the world. He died before the idea was fully embraced anywhere and, even then, it would not be his countrymen who initially recognized the benefit of his suggestion. It would be the Germans and it would be for the purpose of making war.
In 1916 Germany became the first country to implement the practice of setting clocks ahead one hour for the purpose of decreasing the amount of electricity used by civilians in order that fuel might be in abundant supply for the military. Many other countries would follow suit during World War I, including the United States in 1918. For much of the U.S., the initial Daylight Saving Time (DST) lasted just seven months, with a few large cities continuing its use until it was re-instituted in 1942, year-round, for the Second World War. The United Kingdom went so far as to establish “Double Summer Time” during World War II so that their clocks were ahead two hours during the summer and one hour ahead even in winter.
DST was uniformly established in the U.S. in 1966, and many a parent has had cause to curse the twice-yearly time shift ever since. There have been many attempts to do away with the upheaval, both federally through petitions such as this one at Change.org and by various states through the years. Our Lawmakers here in Texas currently have such a bill before both the House and Senate which would end DST permanently beginning in November of this year.
This may be music to the ears of many, but there is also fervent opposition to the idea. While most, if not all, Texans probably wouldn’t mind foregoing the bi-annual adjustment of every household clock, many prefer the extra sunlight that DST affords. Rather than ending its use permanently, these folks propose remaining on DST year-round.
Whatever the reader’s personal inclination, a quick email or call to the proper state Legislators would be an appropriate, even recommended, use of the civic privileges we enjoy. Those Legislators for Brown County are Senator Dawn Buckingham who can be reached by phone: (512) 463-0124 and email; and Representative Mike Lang: (512) 463-0656, email.
