Now that a second Trump presidency is in prospect – and with Republican majorities in both houses of Congress, at that – everyone and his halfwit Uncle Herman is stepping forward with agenda items for the new administration. Quite a few are “old favorites” with broad appeal: cut taxes; reduce federal spending; return to the gold standard; and so forth. Others are more narrowly focused: get the ethanol out of gasoline; end subsidies to higher education; protect Americans’ intellectual property; et cetera. And here and there are quirky entries favored by concentrated interest groups: defund Amtrak; reopen the Alaskan preserves for oil extraction; outlaw the designated hitter rule… the list could be extended to the heavens.
Here at the Fortress, we have our own pet peeve, and as long as everyone else is chanting theirs, I figure we might as well register our preference:
Yes, it’s a small thing, as federal agenda entries go. But it’s caused us no end of dislocation and discomfort. I’d imagine that any household with dogs would agree.
New York has returned to Eastern Standard Time (GMT minus five hours). The C.S.O. and I are struggling to adjust our weary septuagenarian carcasses to the change. The dogs aren’t trying at all. They’re still on Daylight Savings Time. They want what they want when they want it – food; treats; walks; outside time – and they’re relentless about demanding it no matter what the clock says. If experience is our guide, that will continue for several weeks more.
The original rationale for DST was to provide more afternoon sunshine for farm kids, so they can help with the labor. I’m sure the kiddies appreciated the gesture. I mean, what loving child of the soil wouldn’t want more time in the bright, hot sunshine, feeding the hogs and shoveling cow manure? But those days are long behind us… aren’t they? I mean, what with the child labor laws and all?
So let’s have an end to it. The economic losses from the twice-yearly time changes is estimated in the billions of dollars. The physiological impact on Americans’ health is considerable as well. And I’m really BLEEP!ing tired of changing the clocks embedded in every gadget I own.
Do us a solid, Mr. President-elect. Get rid of this superannuated practice.
3 comments
Geronimo apparently responded to this kind of chicanery with the following quip,”Only a (government Jackass) would think he could cut off the bottom of a blanket, sew it to the top and think he has made a longer blanket”. Or words to that effect.
I have never been in the military but General Milley’s testimony on calling China rings false to me. Russia, United States, China, France, United Kingdom, Pakistan, India, Israel, and North Korea all have nuclear weapons. Did he call all seven of the other and if so when? Same day? And if not then the reasoning for him to only specifically call China rings as false. He needs to provide proof of the reasoning behind not making those other calls.
Just my two cents and would love to be wrong. I certainly have not read all of the testimony and responses.
Author
Ah… how does this relate to the all-important question of Daylight Savings Time? 🤔