Daylight saving time was originally adopted during the waning years of World War One.  On April 30th, 1916, Germany and Austria moved the clocks back one hour to help conserve fuel by decreasing the amount of artificial light used by the average citizen.  A short time later, the Allied Powers, including the United States, adopted the same policy.

Recently however, attempts have been made to end daylight saving time.  Arizona and Hawaii do not practice it, and Florida just passed its own end to daylight saving time.  The United States’ territories also do not observe it, and much of Europe is reconsidering its use. Many of its detractors argue that, with the increasing usage of electronic gadgets and heavier air conditioning, daylight saving time no longer saves electricity, and now may even increases its usage.  Why do we need it?

It seems many people have somehow forgotten that the Great War still continues to this day, with the stalemate between the Allied Powers and the Central Powers as strong as ever.  Not only that, but we’ve seen betrayal after betrayal from our former allies, including threatening to retaliate against our steel tariffs and daring to remain part of the European Union, which includes Germany, Austria, Hungary, and Bulgaria, all of whom are members of the Central Powers.  Even the United Kingdom seems hesitant to go through with their proposed secession. Now is not the time to repeal wartime provisions, but rather to bring back the ones we’ve forgotten.

First of all, it would be an excellent idea to transfer half of the Olympic National Forest Reserve to lumber industries again, as we’ve been preserving that land for a situation just like this.  President Woodrow Wilson did this once before, the only time national monument boundaries were changed outside of minor conflicts with private land, and it is now within our best interest to do so again.  Some may argue that it’s a national park now, but we can always just shrink it. Boom, problem solved.

Also, what about war bonds?  Now technically only Congress can declare war, which it’s been refusing to do for a while, making war bonds an incorrect moniker.  So what if instead of war bonds we sell military police action bonds, the war equivalent of executive orders. It would have all the minor financial benefits and patriotic pride that come with war bonds, but with the added pro of correct foreign policy terminology.

Now we come to the most important wartime provision that needs to return.  Back in the early 20th century days of the Great War, the government actually cared about support for their actions.  They wouldn’t just ignore the concerns of the people; They would round them up, convict them of treason, and throw them in prison.  There were no hippy protests or discussions of why the war was actually being fought. The First amendment obviously only applies in times of peace.  Otherwise, keep your mouth shut.

Unfortunately, a lot of these proposals would be difficult sells in our modern, self-centric society.  It will be a long fought battle to return our country back to full, fighting strength. Until then, you can be proud that you’re supporting the troops in the trenches, and your country, by navigating icy roads in the dark.