CAPITALISM CAUSES DST

Daylight-saving time is not, as claimed by Bill Horton ("It's Time for
a Change," New Times Oct. 8), the stupidest law on America's books -
this award should likely be given to the draconian drug laws,
especially against marijuana use.

Daylight-saving time began during World War II - something about
productivity and saving energy. After the war, it was noted that
people tend to do more things - that is, spend more money - during the
extra hours of daylight. So it was extended into peacetime.

During the Reagan years, daylight-saving time was extended to its
maximum practical limits, where it is now. This was done for purely
economic reasons. Daylight-saving time is no more than an effort to
wring every last cent out of your pocket.

It makes no difference that the biannual change causes a week or so or
irritability in the general population with our self-imposed jet lag
or makes few of us late or early or even interferes with man's
biological clock, causing not only irritability but symptoms ranging
from psychological disorientation to death in rare cases. But what
does the government care, as long as we keep consuming?

How does it feel to be treated as a pawn on the big Monopoly board of
American life?

Anne York
Atascadero

Checked-by: Patrick Henry