When do you want the light?

There’s been a couple letters recently regarding daylight saving time. I think there’s some error in Ms. Martin’s observations. The writer says, “I don’t like it getting dark at 4:30 in the afternoon in the winter. I also don’t like it being light until 10:30 on summer nights, but that’s just me. Should we ban this hour ‘spring forward fall back’ custom or keep it? I say get rid of it and let time be time … in its natural state.”

First, make clear what is meant by time’s “natural state.” During the winter we are on Standard Time, therefore getting dark at 4:30 p.m. is the “normal” and will not change. Summer night light until 10:30 is a result of daylight saving time, so that would change. She cannot have it both ways. If we eliminate daylight saving time, then our current time will remain unchanged, summer and winter.

Michael Dahlstrom

Everett