Does Daylight Savings Really Save?

So we all (or most of us) turned our clocks back an hour this past weekend. Personally, I don't get it.

The number one irritant is that my two-year-old is still on EST summer time. So despite playing with her nap times and bedtimes, she is waking at her pre-daylight savings wake time. She will get 'on-time' but this is an irritant for her, and for her parents (listening to her call out for us at 5 a.m. instead of 6).

Number two, and this will likely rise to number one is this. We turn our clocks back to get more daylight, yet the 'extra' hour we get is gained when most of us are getting ready for work, and it'll be dark before we get home from work.

Personally, I'd rather it be dark in the a.m. and gain (keep?) that hour in the evening, so we can take the little one to the park or something. Why gain an hour of daylight at a time of the day when it is least needed? How does this save energy or give us more USEABLE daylight?

I don't get it and I wish we didn't turn back the clocks.

[BruceS]

I thought it had something to do with kids going to school in the morning, and the opinion that they should have daylight for safety. I dunno though. Right now it's just a pain, like you said.

Originally Posted by BruceS

I thought it had something to do with kids going to school in the morning, and the opinion that they should have daylight for safety. I dunno though. Right now it's just a pain, like you said.

I guess that makes sense... but as many kids do extra-curricular stuff after school, it means they're still coming home in the dark, since in the winter time (here) it's dark by 4:30 p.m.

[Rockrolex]

I had always thought it had something to do with the farmers, but I don't recall where I heard that.

My biggest problem with it, other than the lack of daylight at the end of the day, as Johnny mentioned, is the fact that I now have to go around and reset all my watches. And of course I have to do that in the morning, after the date has turned over and is no longer in the no-change zone.

I think the US is going to go to permanent DST next year. I thought I heard that somewhere. Maybe someone can confirm that.

[dman]

Speaking from my persepective, I love it. Okay hear me out. I too have a two year old and it screws up his schedule, but I get more time with him. The reason being is that I don't give golf lessons in the dark, so now at 5 rather than 6 I am heading for the house and Dylan.

To me it is a happy day when I "fall back" one hour.

[dman]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I think the US is going to go to permanent DST next year. I thought I heard that somewhere. Maybe someone can confirm that.

My understanding was that it was to be delayed a month longer on both sides, then after than it would possibly go permanent.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by dman

My understanding was that it was to be delayed a month longer on both sides, then after than it would possibly go permanent.

You may be right. I wasn't listening all that closely when it first came up.

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

You may be right. I wasn't listening all that closely when it first came up.

It seems the US is springing forward earlier and falling back later.

http://www.infoplease.com/spot/daylight1.html#new