U.S. Senate Legislates “Longer, Sunnier Days”

Mark Twain Proved Correct

On March 15, 2022 the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a measure to make Daylight Savings Time (DST) permanent. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), one of the bill’s co-sponsors, voiced enthusiasm for the measure, stating, “I mean, everybody wants longer days.” The U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) in Washington, D.C., responsible for measuring and disseminating time, could not be reached for comment.

Stupid Things First

 “It’s especially timely given that we all had to change our clocks this past weekend, and we are now experiencing longer, sunnier days. But it would be better news if longer, sunnier days were a new norm and not cause for a temporary, seasonal celebration.

Of course, there was no need to consult with the USNO because the measure does not increase the number of hours of sunlight. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, March 15 has 11 hours, 57 minutes of daylight. Nothing the Senate can do will ever change that, expect for redefining “night” as “daylight”. (I shudder at the thought that some member of Congress says, “Hey, now there’s an idea!)

The problems I have with the “Sunshine Protection Act” are not limited to the inane comments that it will create “longer, sunnier days”. I understand that the phrase is used euphemistically, but it betrays an almost deliberate disregard for the fact that DST only makes sunset and sunrise come later in the day. A later sunrise might not mean much during the summer months, but it has a significant impact during the winter.

We learned that the last time we tried this in 1973. Senator Tuberville appears old enough that he should remember permanent DST as a response to the Arab Oil Embargo. It was a disaster, as recounted in this excellent piece from Washingtonian Magazine. It would be good if the Senate would learn from past mistakes, but maybe we should all just be grateful that they do not focus on finding new mistakes to make.

Important Things Never

My main problem is that the U.S. Senate is taking this action at a time when we are faced with (at least) 3 very serious criseses. We are closer to nuclear war than at any time since the Cuban Missle Crisis in 1962 because Russia is slaughtering innocent civilians in Ukraine. President Biden appears to be mentally incapable of fulfilling the responsibilities of his office and others may have taken on that role. Unrestrained Federal spending has unleashed horrific inflation and threatens our future.

I understand that is is sometimes difficult to face seemingly insurmountable problems. I’ve done that myself more often than I care to admit, but I’ve learned that doing so does not make the problems go away. Instead, it often makes them worse. And, apropos of the “Sunshine Protection Act”, I’ve never sworn an oath as a U.S. Senator to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, and it seems all of the crisis’ mentioned above at least touch on that obligation.

Senator Tuberville and those of the upper chamber who voted for this measure believe that it would be better “if longer, sunnier days were a new norm”. Who could be against that? I’m reminded of the fanciful lyrics of the title song from the musical Camelot. And who knows, perhaps the Senate has stumbled on a solution to climate change! But “longer, sunnier days” sounds a lot like “free checks from the government” to me.

What could be wrong with that either?