Ten Miles, One Hour
So, it seems it's that time again. You know, the one where we all try to fool our bodies into believing it's not what time it is? Trying to remember which way to adjust the clock — what is it, fall forward, spring backward — is harder than trying to parallel park a 10-foot U-Haul in a spot barely big enough for a VW Bug.
It used to be worse.
In 1965, the governments of Minnesota's twin cities, St. Paul and Minneapolis, found themselves at odds over when to change the clocks. At the time, implementing DST was like a dealer's choice — each city and state could determine when to start and stop it, regardless of what their neighbors did. Despite Minnesota state law mandating DST could not begin before May 23 nor extend beyond Labor Day, St. Paul's mayor George Vavoulis ran DST from May 9 through October 31.
ROUND 1 — FIGHT!
Vavoulis wasn't alone. Cities along the state's eastern border were already ignoring the mandate to stay in step with Wisconsin. Regardless, both the mayor of Minneapolis and Minnesota's governor took umbrage with the decision. Mayor Art Naftalin said it was a "blatant disregard" for state law, adding that "obedience to state law is an elementary lesson in civics that we all should have learned in sixth grade." The Guvnuh agreed, calling it "rash, shortsighted, extreme and unwarranted."
Unfazed, Vavoulis was basically like, "Bro, state laws get violated every year with no consequences. Get out my face with your selective outrage!"
As a result, the citizens of both cities were forced to choose a side, or rather, a clock. St. Paul's fire department switched to DST, but the police department didn't. County board meetings were scheduled on Standard Time, but the city council clocks were set to DST. Northwest Airlines attempted to appease both cities by displaying two clocks at their airport counter. It was so bad that a person commuting from Minneapolis to St. Paul on the bus could leave on time yet arrive an hour late.
And the cities are only 10 miles apart.
It literally took an act of Congress — the Uniform Time Act of 1966 — to navigate this time change. At least we get to do it in our sleep.
Someone Else’s Problem
When faced with the dilemma of complying with two contradicting rules, something more than rules gets broken.
This Minnesota Minute Mayhem ensued because the world outside of the twin cities changed but the rules governing the people inside didn't. When people did most of their living inside city limits on local time, life was much simpler. But as things like train and plane schedules, television broadcast feeds and long-distance business dealings were being set outside the city limits, time got more complicated.
It's like when an HOA places a limit on the height of property fences and the town requires pools be enclosed by fences that exceed it. The town ordinance was in place long before the new development existed, and a resident who wants privacy for their new pool will violate one of those rules.
Or worse, when you report to two managers thanks to a "dotted line." Each has a legitimate claim on your week, but you can't be in two places at once. Whichever manager you serve, the other finds out you didn't — and "my other manager needed me" sounds exactly like an excuse, even when it's true.
Nobody in any of these situations did acted in bad faith.
Minneapolis followed state law. St. Paul followed neighboring states. The town was trying to prevent accidental drownings. The HOA was trying to prevent eyesores. And both managers had work that needed doing.
When you get stuck between two things that can't coexist, you stop trying to explain why you can't do both. Your explanations start sounding like excuses, and you start thinking you're the one who can't coexist.
Northwest Airlines never solved anything. They just hung two clocks and went back to work.
Question of the Week
Where have you started believing the problem is you?
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