Once again we are being asked to consider changing the hands on our clocks ahead an hour. How many times has this been attempted and the people have always laid it to rest? But once again there arises certain elements who are telling us that we need “change” (does this rhetoric have a familiar ring?).
Dickinson was built on farming and ranching. It has grown into a diverse community with energy, manufacturing, a university, hospital and clinics; different lifestyles than rural.
I do a fair amount of business — repairs, purchasing supplies, feed, vehicles, equipment, etc. and personal items from local businesses and market cattle here. Many business owners I am proud to call friends.
I notice many folks from the outlying communities in Dickinson, many from farther away than the 50 miles I traveled in. A lot of them are from Montana and South Dakota. For moving your clocks ahead causes a great inconvenience to rural folks. By the nature of our life and work we follow the normal daylight. Perhaps when you live in a “neon” world, it matters little what time your clock says but to us it does. The coldest part of the day is just before sun-up. Why would we want to roll out the kids to meet the school bus in the dark of night? For what?
We have family in Bismarck and interact constantly with them. The difference of an hour has never been a problem, we know it’s there and deal with it. An added benefit is when traveling there we get home an hour earlier kind of a bonus for getting up tomorrow morning.
Way back when I was in about fourth grade, I learned how to adjust from one time zone to another; it’s not that difficult to do. Wherever you put it, the time zone line has to be drawn somewhere and there will be controversy.
I believe in shopping locally as it benefits both ways. Can those pushing for a change say the same? Or could it be that their personal convenience of running down Interstate 94 to shop, see a doctor, or for recreation is their motivation? Again, I ask you to consider what you might gain and what you would lose by changing your clocks to another hour faster, and to think of what effect such a move has on your loyal surrounding trade area.
Jim Lowman, Fairfield
Tags: jim lowman, opinion, letters, fairfield
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