I've written enough about the need for us to move on from the time-zone issue, and every time I do, I get calls and mail from people who don't want to let it go. But let me say an unkind word or two about the rederendum, which we should be thankful Indiana uses only sparingly rather than promiscuously as California and some other states do:
A bill introduced by state Rep. David Crooks, D-Washington, would put a ballot question before voters in the November 2008 general election to determine if the entire state could be placed into the Eastern or Central time zone.
Crooks said the referendum would simply gauge public opinion and give lawmakers better direction on how to proceed.
"What I'm trying to do is have fact-finding opportunity on what could occur. The biggest concern I hear is, 'We want unity, whatever time zone that would be,'" he said.
Unity is much overrated. Time zones should be decided based on what makes geographic and commercial sense, not what The People want. Seeking the counsel of The People is the mark of a cowardly politician who just wants to stay in office rather than worrying about doing the right thing. We have, wisely, decided to have a republic rather than a pure democracy, removing the most critical decisions from the whims and passions-of-the-moment of The People. We don't decide. We just decide who decides.
Comments
I do not get involved in the time zone issue very much; however, I have one question for you Leo:
Please look at a map of Indiana and look at the current hodge podge of time zones.
Then please answer this question:
How does our current hodge podge of time zones make commercial and geographic sense?
Mike Sylvester
I don't disagree that a county-to-county look at time zones is warranted, to make sure each county is in the right one. I just think it would be a mistake to force the whole state into one time zone. Because we're in a part of the country where two zones meet, it's natural for different regions to feel the tug of different zones. Make the whole state Eastern or Central, and you put people in some parts of the state out of sync with the zone outside the state they have the most ties to. (See editorial in tomorrow night's paper.)
Ah, Leo, there you go again - making me agree with you.
Having grown up in Nebraska (the Known Center of the Universe, or at least the United States - look at a map), which has two time zones, I don't understand the concern that some people have with splitting Indiana into two parts based on what makes sense for the east and west sides of the state.
At least I don't have to explain what time we are on, twice each year, with everyone I know who doesn't live in Indiana.
As an early morning person, I fail to see why we needed an extra hour of daylight in the summer when it already stays light out until 8:30! That is late enough. I don't get an extra hour of daylight. I still have to be at work at the same time and have to go to bed when it is light out, kids are running around and people are mowing their lawn. We should be on Eastern time if we are going to be on DST.
Laura, it's come to my attention George Bush likes Indiana on Eastern Time also. Just a heads up.
>Seeking the counsel of The People
>is the mark of a cowardly politician
>who just wants to stay in office
>rather than worrying about
>doing the right thing.
Leo --
I think you have wandered down an intellectual rathole here. This kind of statement is precisely how every cowardly public servant who won't serve the public rationalizes every arrogant, self-serving act in office. How in he11 would most politicians recognize the right thing if they won't ask the people who elected them?
The above statement of yours is the opposite, the nemesis of everything I and a lot of other good citizens are forced to fight for, usually to keep our rights when some grandiose moron who thinks elections are about power instead of service is trying to bend us over and ram through some purely selfish, dogmatic, personal agenda for the benefit of exactly the wrong people.
Sorry to be wishy-washy about it, but there it is. When you or any citizen hears a politician insist he is "doing the right thing?" He is virtually guaranteed to be having you off.