Zee Stupidity! Eet Astounds Me!

Swiped from Fark: US lawmakers want daylight-saving time change

"A House committee voted on Wednesday to expand U.S. daylight-saving time by two months to help reduce energy consumption, but rejected a plan to shave total U.S. oil demand by 1 million barrels a day.

[…]

The panel agreed in a voice vote to move the start of daylight-saving time in the United States -- which occurs when clocks are turned forward by one hour -- one month earlier to the first Sunday in March. The end of daylight time would be moved back one month to the last Sunday in November.

Supporters of the amendment, sponsored by Michigan Republican Fred Upton, said it would save about 10,000 barrels of oil a day because offices and stores would be open while it was still light outside and therefore use less energy.

[…]

The committee voted down, 39 to 12, a separate amendment to require the federal government to find a way to cut U.S. oil demand by 1 million barrels a day by 2013. The amendment offered by Democrat Henry Waxman of California aimed to reduce imports of crude oil.

Lawmakers with automakers in their districts led the fight to defeat Waxman's proposal, arguing it was backdoor way to require U.S. mini-vans, sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks to improve their fuel efficiency."

If you ever wanted proof that politicians aren't really interested in solving problems, this would be it.  Approve messing with the clocks in order to obtain theoretical savings of only marginal significance?  (Compared to total consumption, that is.  And I say theoretical, as most businesses and stores seem to leave the lights on if they're open, regardless of how much light there is outside.)  Sure!  But actually passing a bill that would require them to search for possible solutions that would have a major impact on oil consumption?  That might require increased fuel efficiency, and we don't want that!  (Seriously:  what's wrong with increasing fuel efficiency?  Anyone?  Anyone?  Hello?)

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Addendum: According to the AP story on this, US oil consumption is around 20 million barrels a day.  So, that's about 7.3 x 10⁹ barrels a year.  (Damn inconsistency on the meaning of billion.)  Supposing that the full 10 000 barrels a day was conserved for all 62 days, that would result in an annual savings of (drum roll, please) approximately 0.008 percent of total oil consumption.  If anyone needs me, I'll be outside beating my head against a brick wall.