As the end of daylight saving time looms this year, the U.S. Congress is still hung up on whether to make it permanent.

"When told the reason for Daylight Saving Time, the Old Indian said,

"Only the government would believe that you can cut a foot off the top

of a blanket, sew it to the bottom, and get a longer blanket.' 

This Saturday, Just Say No To The Clock-Changing Madness: It’s Pointless And Dangerous – Issues & Insights (issuesinsights.com)   "This weekend, hundreds of millions of Americans will dutifully set their clocks back one hour, convincing themselves that they’ve “gained” an hour – despite spending at least part of it resetting all their timepieces.

"Americans should instead refuse to play along. Few government mandates combine such utter pointlessness and serious public health harms than the twice-a-year switch on and off Daylight Saving Time. It’s time to end the madness.

"First, despite its label, “Daylight Saving Time” does not save daylight. It doesn’t even save energy. Two studies looked at energy use before and after changes in DST laws. Indiana went on daylight saving time statewide for the first time in 2006, and in 2007 when President George W. Bush’s godawful energy bill started DST three weeks earlier.

"Both found no energy savings. Energy use in Indiana actually went up when it went on DST. So if switching back and forth each year doesn’t save energy, what does it do?

"What is clear is that it is a real public health hazard.

"A study in Health Economics found that “springing forward” causes “the suicide rate to rise by 6.25% and the death rate from suicide and substance abuse combined to increase by 6.59% directly after the time change.”

"Another study published in Sleep Medicine found a significant increase in traffic fatalities on the Monday after the switch to DST, because people are sleep-deprived by having to get up an hour earlier.

"But the study also found that traffic fatalities climbed on the Sunday after everyone “falls back” to standard time. As the researchers noted:" . . .

As the end of daylight saving time looms this year, the U.S. Congress is still hung up on whether to make it permanent.