Originally posted by Trevor Maxwell in the 5/5/05 Portland Press Herald Maine lawmakers, having bounced the idea around for years, said Wednesday that voters should decide.
Members of the State and Local Government Committee unanimously endorsed a bill that, if approved by voters, would put Maine on Atlantic time along with Canada's Maritime Provinces.
The proposal would eliminate daylight-saving time, so the change would be noticeable for just five months of the year - from the end of October to the beginning of April. During that period, Maine would be an hour ahead of Boston, New York and Washington, D.C., for example. In the summer, Maine would be on the same schedule as its U.S. neighbors.
The bill now goes to the Senate and House. If it is approved, voters will decide in a November 2006 referendum. Final approval is required from the U.S. Department of Transportation.
"It would be like staying on daylight-saving time year round," said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Kevin Glynn, D-South Portland.
Supporters say the bill can only help - from improving economic production to creating better moods in winter. Construction crews and other businesses could work later into fall and winter evenings. And Mainers would likely save on energy bills.
Opponents say the change would create a mess - confusing visitors and isolating Maine from the rest of the eastern seaboard.
They do realize that you don't actually physically gain any time, just the perception of time, right?
Thoughts pieman?
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Originally posted by GrimisThey do realize that you don't actually physically gain any time, just the perception of time, right?
I think they're speculating that it would be good for for some industries like construction it to be daylight from 8:30-to-5:00 in the winter instead of the customary 7:30-to-4:00. It DOES suck to go into work in the dark and step out at the end of the day and have it also be dark.
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Uh what? Uh I don't like states' rights? Uh I don't like letting the voters decide? Uh I have no idea why I chose THIS issue to return to starting threads in the Politics forum? Uh WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! But, on the other hand, you did at least defer to a resident of Maine, so I'll give you a gentleman's C.
Originally posted by JayJayDeanI think they're speculating that it would be good for for some industries like construction it to be daylight from 8:30-to-5:00 in the winter instead of the customary 7:30-to-4:00. It DOES suck to go into work in the dark and step out at the end of the day and have it also be dark.
Is it really so difficult to adjust your work times, based on the available daylight? I mean, farmers have done it for years.
Well, CRZ, if this were on FARK, it would probably have a headline that says "Having solved all other problems, Maine legislature decides to move to Atlantic time."
I think that's what Grimis was going for. Obviously, Maine has every right to do this if they want to, but politicians seem to think that daylight savings time will balance the budget and cure cancer.
Incidentally, how does daylight savings time save on energy bills? If you are awake for 16 hours, but there is only daylight for let's say 14 hours in the summer, aren't you going to have to pay for electricity for 2 hours either way? And I can't see how you'd save on heat.
NOTE: The above post makes no sense. We apologize for the inconvenience.
If you live on the extreme eastern end of the time zone (DST or not) you have sunrise very early and sunset very early. While not up there with terror and the economy, it's a pain in the ass for those living there, especially that far north.
This has been a hot topic up here for a couple days now. I fall in the camp of "eh, whatever." You only get so many hours of daylight, no matter what time of day you say it is. I don't think it would be a huge impact either way. Am I really agreeing with StaggerLee??
Despite the notion that Maine is a little state, it does encompass a wide (read east to west) area. Those down in the southwestern portion (Portland) live a completely different lifestyle form those in Presque Isle (north and east). The sun comes up mighty early downeast, my friends. The impact on those folks living in the east is much more severe than the rest of the state.
In the wintertime, the sun goes down around 4 PM. This Atlantic time zone shift would call it 5 PM. It will be the same as living in daylight savings time all the time.
Regardless, it will be dark when you go to school or work OR it will be dark when you come home. And sometimes, it will be dark both ways.
Originally posted by Phantom LordIt seems simple to me. If the Sun rises in Maine before it does in Boston and New York then logically the time should be off an hour.
But, of course it rises first in Maine, Maine's to the EAST. The entire Eastern time zone doesn't receive sunlight at the same time.
“To get ass, you’ve got to bring ass." -- Roy Jones Jr.
"Your input has been noted. I hope you don't take it personally if I disregard it." -- Guru Zim
Originally posted by Phantom LordIt seems simple to me. If the Sun rises in Maine before it does in Boston and New York then logically the time should be off an hour.
But, of course it rises first in Maine, Maine's to the EAST. The entire Eastern time zone doesn't receive sunlight at the same time.
I tell you though, JJD, that quite the concept to some people. Trust me, the sunrise is later here in Louisville (Eastern) than in Maine. We have a routine that predicts sunrise to allow lights to phase off slowly without expensive electrovoltaic cells and I always have to explain that sunrise happens at different times through a particular time zone. It's a globe, people! That whole "flat earth" thing has been disproven.
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