I think the Time Zone fiasco is a good example of a typical government screw-up.
I think that what time zone we are in should be determined as follows:
1. We change State law to allow a ballot referendum by the people.
2. We pass a State law saying that time zones can only be discussed once every TWENTY years.
2. We put it on the 2006 ballot. We give everyone TWO choices. (A lot of voters would turn out, I promise!)
a. Eastern DST.
b. Central DST.
3. We tally the votes (Somewhere other then Gary for obvious reasons. Whichever side has the most votes is declared the winner and the ENTIRE STATE OF INDIANA switches to that time zone, all 92 Counties.
Indiana being a patchwork is going to be awful, if it happens. One county even wants to split up the county by townships; what a joke...
Leo Morris
Wed, 09/21/2005 - 11:52am
But WHY does the whole state have to be in the same time zone? Counties in northwest Indiana have economic ties with Chicago, so it would make no sense for them to be Eastern. It would likewise be against their interests for counties bordering Kentucky or Ohio to go Central. It doesn't sound very libertarian to me to let voters in each county vote on the time zone that suits them, then make them all go on the same one. The final decision will be made by the federal Department of Transportation, and it will use patterns of economic activity to determine if any zones need changed, so I doubt if there will be a crazy patchwork; most likely, the central zones in northwest and southwest Indiana could be extended by a county or two. The CONSIDERATION of change, not a guarantee of it, will come from counties that request it. All in all, it sounds like a textbook example of how federalism should work.
Mike Sylvester LP
Wed, 09/21/2005 - 8:28pm
I have to admit that I am NOT a Libertarian on each and every issue.
Per the Constitution I feel that time is a Federal issue. This may come as a shock; but, I suggest you read the following portion of the Constitution:
Article 1 Section 8
"To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Value of Weights and Measures."
Time is a unit of measurement. The Federal government has the power to establish what time it is in this nation.
This is why The Federal government handles time zones.
I think it is as simple as that.
I believe in personal freedom; but, there are some things the Federal government must regulate. Time is a great example.
Lets say that the people of Grabil Indaina decide that they should be on Central time. Lets also say that the rest of Allen County decides they want Eastern time. By your argument; it sounds like you may be saying that we should let the people of Grabil pick their own time.
I think not...
Leo Morris
Thu, 09/22/2005 - 5:42am
OK, we agree that setting time zones is a legitimate federal function, right up there with establishing a national currency. That still doesn't speak to why the whole state has to be on the same time zone. I wouldn't let each county set its own time zone, but it's certainly legitimate -- and in keeping with federalism -- to let the trigger for possible change of zones be a request from county government. That's an alert for the DOT that it might have a county in the wrong zone, that the county's patterns of economic activity might be different than they were when the time zone was established. The DOT isn't required to change a county's zone, and won't, in fact, if the evidence doesn't warrant it. I'd bet, for example, that St. Joseph's request to change from Eastern to Central won't be granted. The county's economic ties both with Eastern Indiana counties and nearby Michigan (also Eastern) are stronger than the ones with Central-zone Chicago.
Mike Sylvester LP
Thu, 09/22/2005 - 10:08am
I really prefer the entire State being on one time; however, I certainly can see the argument for splitting a State GEOGRAPHICALLY. I would not have a problem with the Western part of Indaina being on Central time and the rest being on Eastern time for example.
We are not splitting the State geographically, we are splitting it County by County.
I just do not like the potential patchwork this will create. It will be confusing beyond belief.
Dave
Fri, 09/23/2005 - 1:55am
I don't think the government is going to go fo the patchwork timezones. I could be wrong here but I think they'll probably keep it under advisement. Patchwork makes for confusion, I'm sure we're all in agreement, but I also have no problem with dividing the state. Division is one thing, patchwork is another. As for a vote, has any other state ever had a referendum on time zones? I've not heard of it but I don't know.
Mike Sylvester LP
Fri, 09/23/2005 - 4:48am
I sure hope they do not go for patchwork time zones Dave.
Other States have had a referendum on time zones. In those other States their State Legislature (Politicians) had a referendum and then when the results of that were tallied then the Legislature petitioned the Federal government.
I left Indiana for eleven years. I spent six of those eleven years in the Navy.
During that time I lived in Florida, New York, California, and Hawaii while I was in the Navy. I lived in Missouri and Nebraska when I got out of the Navy.
Almost every election the voters would vote on various issues. I really liked it.
Comments
I think the Time Zone fiasco is a good example of a typical government screw-up.
I think that what time zone we are in should be determined as follows:
1. We change State law to allow a ballot referendum by the people.
2. We pass a State law saying that time zones can only be discussed once every TWENTY years.
2. We put it on the 2006 ballot. We give everyone TWO choices. (A lot of voters would turn out, I promise!)
a. Eastern DST.
b. Central DST.
3. We tally the votes (Somewhere other then Gary for obvious reasons. Whichever side has the most votes is declared the winner and the ENTIRE STATE OF INDIANA switches to that time zone, all 92 Counties.
Indiana being a patchwork is going to be awful, if it happens. One county even wants to split up the county by townships; what a joke...
But WHY does the whole state have to be in the same time zone? Counties in northwest Indiana have economic ties with Chicago, so it would make no sense for them to be Eastern. It would likewise be against their interests for counties bordering Kentucky or Ohio to go Central. It doesn't sound very libertarian to me to let voters in each county vote on the time zone that suits them, then make them all go on the same one. The final decision will be made by the federal Department of Transportation, and it will use patterns of economic activity to determine if any zones need changed, so I doubt if there will be a crazy patchwork; most likely, the central zones in northwest and southwest Indiana could be extended by a county or two. The CONSIDERATION of change, not a guarantee of it, will come from counties that request it. All in all, it sounds like a textbook example of how federalism should work.
I have to admit that I am NOT a Libertarian on each and every issue.
Per the Constitution I feel that time is a Federal issue. This may come as a shock; but, I suggest you read the following portion of the Constitution:
Article 1 Section 8
"To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Value of Weights and Measures."
Time is a unit of measurement. The Federal government has the power to establish what time it is in this nation.
This is why The Federal government handles time zones.
I think it is as simple as that.
I believe in personal freedom; but, there are some things the Federal government must regulate. Time is a great example.
Lets say that the people of Grabil Indaina decide that they should be on Central time. Lets also say that the rest of Allen County decides they want Eastern time. By your argument; it sounds like you may be saying that we should let the people of Grabil pick their own time.
I think not...
OK, we agree that setting time zones is a legitimate federal function, right up there with establishing a national currency. That still doesn't speak to why the whole state has to be on the same time zone. I wouldn't let each county set its own time zone, but it's certainly legitimate -- and in keeping with federalism -- to let the trigger for possible change of zones be a request from county government. That's an alert for the DOT that it might have a county in the wrong zone, that the county's patterns of economic activity might be different than they were when the time zone was established. The DOT isn't required to change a county's zone, and won't, in fact, if the evidence doesn't warrant it. I'd bet, for example, that St. Joseph's request to change from Eastern to Central won't be granted. The county's economic ties both with Eastern Indiana counties and nearby Michigan (also Eastern) are stronger than the ones with Central-zone Chicago.
I really prefer the entire State being on one time; however, I certainly can see the argument for splitting a State GEOGRAPHICALLY. I would not have a problem with the Western part of Indaina being on Central time and the rest being on Eastern time for example.
We are not splitting the State geographically, we are splitting it County by County.
I just do not like the potential patchwork this will create. It will be confusing beyond belief.
I don't think the government is going to go fo the patchwork timezones. I could be wrong here but I think they'll probably keep it under advisement. Patchwork makes for confusion, I'm sure we're all in agreement, but I also have no problem with dividing the state. Division is one thing, patchwork is another. As for a vote, has any other state ever had a referendum on time zones? I've not heard of it but I don't know.
I sure hope they do not go for patchwork time zones Dave.
Other States have had a referendum on time zones. In those other States their State Legislature (Politicians) had a referendum and then when the results of that were tallied then the Legislature petitioned the Federal government.
I left Indiana for eleven years. I spent six of those eleven years in the Navy.
During that time I lived in Florida, New York, California, and Hawaii while I was in the Navy. I lived in Missouri and Nebraska when I got out of the Navy.
Almost every election the voters would vote on various issues. I really liked it.