Actually, Gene, you are now on the same time schedule as the rest of the planet. During the growing season here in the USA, the "official" time is bumped forward one hour so as to give the business world another hour - consider farming, for example - getting out there in the early morning when the sun is barely up is MUCH more bearable than working through the heat of the afternoon.
Once growing season is over, the justification for the time change goes away. No matter how inconvenient or puzzling it is to most people, there are reasons why it's a practical idea.
Actually, the idea that DST was done to help farmers is a myth. It has never had anything to do with farming. Historically, farmers have hated and opposed it. In fact, with the exception of WWII, the agriculture lobby completely ended DST for nearly 50 years.
It was brough back by Nixxon as a response to the OPEC oil embargo but it didn't help. It was extended in 1986 because congress was still optimistic that it would cut fuel consumption and also cut crime, but no reduction in either has been demonstrated. Perhaps ironically, the oil industry loves DST as they have long believed they sell more gasoline as a result of the longer driving hours.
The latest (since 2007) extension is primarily due to the lobbying of the golfing industry, the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the National Association of Convenience Stores, the Barbecue Industry Association, and the Candy industry who had long wanted it pushed back beyond Halloween. Not surprisingly, virtually every member of Congress claims s/he voted for the extension because "it will save 100,000 barrels/day of oil."
