[LEAPSECS] Back to Basics

[ashtongj]

Getting back to basics is good, but my view is different from Mr. 
Finkleman's.

The world of measurements is effectively divided into the realms of 
discussion, publication, and research, versus the realm of commerce. In 
the first realm, you can do whatever you want (if you live in a place 
where freedom of speech and the press is respected). In the second 
realm, commerce, the government makes you do what the government 
considers right, and if you resist strongly enough, the government will 
kill you.

As an example, if I run a laundromat and I put up signs that say my 
dryers will run for 10 minutes if you put a U.S. quarter into the slot, 
but the dryer only runs for 9 minutes and 30 seconds, the inspectors 
from the department of agriculture can come into my laundromat, seize 
the dryer, and truck it away. If I throw the inspectors out the door, 
they will call the police. If I point a gun at the police when they show 
up to assist the inspectors, the police will kill me.

Commerce often involves contracts, and many of the terms of contracts 
are defined by law or custom, in the absence of specific provisions to 
the contrary. In the absence of contrary provisions, times and dates in 
contracts are reckoned according to the civil time in effect at the 
appropriate place, if the appropriate place can be determined. But I 
could write a contract specifying UTC and I strongly suspect it would be 
enforced.

The law in the US sets up time zones based on UTC, and contains the 
following:

   Coordinated Universal Time Defined.--In this section, the
   term `Coordinated Universal Time' means the time scale maintained
   through the General Conference of Weights and Measures
   and interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary
   of Commerce in coordination with the Secretary of the Navy.

( See 
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=h2272enr 
)

So the ITU cannot directly discontinue leap seconds for the US, only the 
CGPM can do that, and only if the Secretaries of Commerce and the Navy 
deem that the change has occurred and decide not to modify the CGPM 
decision.

I suspect the structure will be similar in other countries.

Gerry Ashton