CHANGING THE CLOCKS

Tonight is the night to set back clocks as daylight-saving time draws to a close. The change officially occurs at 2 a.m. Sunday, but most folks go ahead and reset their clocks when they go to bed tonight. That way they don't have to worry about what time it is when they get up Sunday morning.

Daylight-saving time is intended to extend the daylight hours into the evening during good weather. The switch back to Central Standard Time, however, abruptly shortens afternoon daylight. Many workers who don't leave for home until 5 or 5:30 o'clock in the afternoon must find their way in near darkness. Of course, the time switch means more daylight in the early-morning hours.

Why not have one time year around? Either keep daylight-saving time or Central Standard Time all the time. Switching back and forth doesn't make good sense. In spite of the name, daylight-saving time doesn't save any daylight. Regardless of the system, there are only so many hours of sunlight as the planet wobbles around the sun.

What do you think? Maybe switching the clocks is just one more federal mandate everyone could do without.