(Kelly Chapman) – The late Danish-American comedian/pianist Victor Borge once said, tongue in cheek, “I don't mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be the only thing I've saved all year.”

He was right about inflation – especially these days – but I haven’t been able to find anyone – not a single person – who likes the twice-yearly ritual of setting our clocks one hour forward in the spring and then one hour back in the fall. It’s difficult enough for adults, but pets and kids who can’t yet tell time suffer worse.  They operate on their bodies’ internal clocks, not the blinking lights on the kitchen microwave.

Remember during COVID how we were told to “trust the science” – even though the science was far from settled or agreed upon?  Well, what about the science related to Daylight Savings Time (DST)? Studies have consistently shown that artificial “time travel” imposed by changing our clocks takes a terrible toll on our bodies and mental health.  “Seasonal depression” is real and hits a lot of people – including those who don’t even realize it.

 In today’s political environment of bitter partisan divide, eliminating Daylight Savings Time is not only one of the few areas of agreement among voters of all political stripes, but is an issue that actually affects all voters directly and personally. At the same time, the failure to ditch DST demonstrates the dysfunction of government controlled by today’s politicians. 

 “Calls for an end to changing the clocks are legion,” wrote Steve Sebelius of KTNV.com this week, “but thus far, neither Congress nor the state Legislature has taken any action that would keep us from spending time changing the time on clocks, watches and bedside alarms.” Sebelius noted that there have been at least six bills or resolutions in the Nevada Legislature since 1995 to end this practice, but none have gone anywhere.  However, State Senate Minority Leader Sen. Robin Titus has announced she’s gonna give it another go next session.

One of the sticking points in the past has been the fact that if Nevada changes, it will create a problem for Californians who visit here unless California changes as well.

 First, Nevada shouldn’t be making its decision on what’s best for Nevadans based on what’s best for Californians.  Secondly, neighboring Arizona – which also relies on tourism from California – does not change its clocks twice a year, apparently with no adverse effect on cross-state travel.

Whether we switch to year-round standard time or year-round daylight savings time, the ultimate solution is to pick one and move on. No more “spring forward, fall back.”  No more telling kids they suddenly have to get up an hour earlier for school.  No more telling pets they have to wait an hour to be fed. 

No more struggling to figure out how to change the clock on our microwave ovens!

The voters of Assembly District 8 can rest assured that if I’m elected to represent you - not California tourists - I’ll support and vote for Sen. Titus’ bill to “lock the clock.”

For more information, please visit my website at Chapman4Nevada.com