[LEAPSECS] What's the point?

[Rob Seaman]

Tony Finch wrote:


> the whole point of universal time is that it's the default timscale

> for civil use and only specialists should need anything else.


Seeking consensus, I said:


>> Stephen should add this to the consensus building list.


Tony said:


> Does that mean that you agree that its very tight coupling to earth

> rotation is a historical artefact rather than a necessary feature?

> 

> i.e. "whole point" or "main point"?


I clarified in another message.  (Also, note that "history" itself is often an affirmative argument and "artifactualness" is beside the point.)

Regarding your current question, I would personally assert:

	Coupling civil timekeeping to Earth rotation is a necessary feature.

I suspect some others here might not be willing (yet) to promote this to "consensus" :-)

Phrases like "tight coupling" are misleading.  The ITU position has only ever been to remove *all* coupling.  On this list we have often discussed various ways to relax the current constraints.  It is the ITU who have been inflexible.

Rob