Ron Propeil's advice

“Set it, and forget it.”

That was Ron Propeil’s declaration to buyers of his rotisserie oven several years ago, and it is what his audiences would yell during his television infomercials.

This, of course, was long after he became famous for his Veg-o-Matic, Pocket Fisherman and other inventions.

More recently people have been saying it in an entirely different context.

Now, it is used in reference to Daylight Saving Time.

They say quit fooling around with clocks.

Switching time at various arbitrary points in the year is frustrating and confusing, say proponents of eliminating time changes.

They also say it is unhealthy. Heart attacks and strokes increase dramatically just before and after time changes.

The idea was to save energy. Even Benjamin Franklin had a theory on saving candles, but the first national effort started in Germany in 1916 during World War I. Then, several other countries adopted the idea.

The effort lost support for a while, but it was resurrected as a result of World War II.

It has remained a credible idea since. In America, only Arizona and Hawaii don’t recognize the time change. In fact, the Washington Legislature has considered eliminating Daylight Saving Time.

Comments can be positive at this time of year when driving home from work while it is still light. Some say the sudden increase in afternoon daylight is rejuvenating and a sure sign that winter is loosening its grip.

Yet, the arguments in favor of the time change are debatable. The negative arguments against it are likewise debatable.

Opinions vary.

This is not the most urgent issue we face. An hour is not such a big deal. More important issues need to be resolved. The world is in turmoil. Tensions are high. In light of this, should not something remain dependably immutable? At least time should be reliable and unsullied.

For those in doubt, we must fall back on the wisdom of those we trusted in the past.

If Ron Propeil says “Set it, and forget it,” then let’s set it and forget it.

Who are we to argue with him?

Gordon Forgey

Publisher