Indiana summers aren't the same

To the editor:
In the early 1770’s the American colonies were a simmering cauldron of grievances.  On July 4, 1776, toleration ran out and a formal statement of separation was unveiled.   The Declaration of Independence has guided our democratic form of government for 236 years with each new state incorporating the Declaration’s principals into its own frame of government.  The Indiana Constitution echoes these principles in ARTICLE 1 of its Bill of Rights.  “WE DECLARE, That all people are created equal; that they are endowed by their CREATOR with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that all power is inherent in the People; and that all free governments are, and of right ought to be, founded on their authority, and instituted for their peace, safety, and well-being.”
July 4th reminds us that from time to time constitutional benchmarks need to be checked to see if they are being met.  Perhaps not, at least if we take seriously the requirement that governments have the responsibility for the safety and well-being of its citizens. Thousands of Hoosiers are currently signing petitions giving Eastern Time a big “F” for failure.  Having been switched from Indiana’s original Central Time Zone, Eastern means that sunrise is as late as 8:20 a.m.  
With school bus routes starting as early as 6:30 a.m. and schools starting before sunrise, the state is failing to safeguard the safety and educational well-being of Indiana’s 1.35 million school children.  They constitute 20 percent of our population.  Aren’t they entitled to safety and educational well-being or do thay have to be voting age before these kick in?  On Central Time the latest sunrise would be 7:20 a.m. and students, as well as commuters, would travel to and from school and work in daylight the majority of the year.  
On July 4th it won’t get dark until 10 p.m. With our summers no longer on “Chicago Time” (i.e. Central Daylight Time), fireworks are at 10 p.m. instead of 9 p.m., bedtimes are a struggle, children are growing up without seeing stars and catching lightning bugs, and campfires have lost their magic.   
Financially, Indiana suffers on Eastern Time because the permanent 3-hour time lag with the West Coast is a deterrent to business interaction, as well as, inconveniencing transportation and personal communications.  Several Indiana companies have moved their distribution/service centers to Memphis because their Central Time location is more conducive to delivery of products and services.     
Indiana’s elected officials take an oath to support our constitution.  Are they keeping their promise?  Thousands of Hoosiers think they are not and have signed petitions in support of restoring Indiana to its original Central Time Zone.  Petitions can be downloaded on www.hoosiersforcentraltime.com.  Celebrate July 4th by joining fellow Hoosiers in letting our elected officials know that enough is enough!  
Sue Dillon, president,
Central Time Coalition
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