[kelnos]

> amazed at the kind of power the government wields just by having the ability to change our timezone.

Who else would have that power, though? Every government has the power to set the time within their own borders.

[notatoad]

i think the point isn't that somebody other than the government should have that power, but that the government should have less of that power.

it's perfectly reasonable for goverments to self-limit themselves - for example, pass a law that daylight savings time can't be changed with less than 6 months notice.

[mcv]

But if not the government, then who? And what is their basis for that power? Do you want a separate election for just the people who decide timezones?

I've got to admit, there's an organisation deciding the grammar rules of the Dutch language, and I frequently disagree with them. I wouldn't mind being able to vote for more sensible spelling rules.

[notatoad]

Did you read my comment at all? You’re replying to a comment that quite specifically answers the question in your reply.

[mcv]

You're right, it was probably a too hasty reply from me. It's a good idea for governments to prevent themselves from springing disruptive changes on society.

[userbinator]

Not if everyone uses mean solar time... or just chooses something like GMT.

[jtbayly]

…which they would do via government.

[ruined]

there are areas of the world where the government disagrees with the population on the appropriate timezone, most notably in Xinjiang

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xinjiang_Time

[jtbayly]

The exception that proves the rule.