DST, CST: PICK ONE

Southeast Missourians recently abided the ritual of changing their clocks to accommodate that curious rite known as daylight-saving time. The spring change, when clocks are set ahead one hour, always seems the toughest to adjust to, as any observant minister knows that Sunday.

Prior to 1966, individual towns and cities were free to adopt daylight-saving time or remain on standard time. Exactly when they went on and off daylight-saving time was up to each city council as well. Time-keeping chaos was common.

Daylight-saving time, which will continue through Oct. 29, now is strictly observed throughout the country, though states that are split by time zones may exempt themselves. The consistency certainly is an improvement.

And yet it seems strange that Americans tolerate the twice-a-year disruption, which has little practical merit.

During World War II, daylight-saving time was seen as a way to reduce the evening use of electricity. But now the issue is viewed primarily as a way to give Americans an additional hour of summer daylight for recreation.

If the extra hour of daylight is beneficial in the summer, why not keep it year around? If not, keep DST all year or scrap daylight-saving time and remain on standard time all year, sparing ourselves the seasonal confusion and adjustments to clocks.