What is the deal with 12???

last post reminded me of the problem with 12. why is 12 the FIRST hour and not the last!?!? the current system is:

12,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11

when it really should be

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12

This is just idiotic. Who was coming up with the time system and insisted that 12 starts the half-day and not ends it? Sure this seems like an insignificant issue, until you start to wonder why it is an issue at all...