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Seattle is not only "sleepless," according to the US Census Bureau, it is also the most "anxious" major city in America.
The Seattle Times said yesterday, "Here in Seattle, we take a lot of pride in our status as the coffee capital of the nation. But starting tomorrow, you might want to consider switching to decaf."
"Why?"
"Because Seattle is the most jittery major metro in the US, according to survey data from the US Census Bureau."
The fix will likely require more than decaf.
Here's what the Census Bureau found.
Be informed, not misled.
Seattle on edge.
The survey the Seattle Times is referring to was taken between September 29 and October 11.
It found that 54.5% of the adult population of King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties---that's roughly 1.8 million people---said they felt "nervous, anxious, or on edge" for at least several days during the past two weeks. That's the highest percentage among the 15 largest US metro areas.
Seattle is the nation's 15th largest metro area.
"The Household Pulse Survey" is an experimental project taken by the Census Bureau to, according to them, provide data in "near real-time" as opposed to the "longer lag times" in other surveys.
The data from the survey is intended to help inform officials and policymakers about the impacts of the pandemic on communities across the country.
The Time's writer, Gene Balk, says he was a little skeptical about the survey results at first because feelings often change from day to day, but a closer look revealed that these results were consistent going back to July.
"In other words," he says, "the results don't appear to be a fluke."
And he notes, "A higher percentage of white people are stressed out in Seattle than people of color."
Beyond that, he says the obvious---the stress of the pandemic, and the normal stresses of living life create anxiety.
He also mentions that "there is a strong generational component to anxiety. Seattle's Gen Z and Millennials are significantly more stressed out than boomers"--- the little older folks.
Beyond that, he concludes, "The survey data doesn't give us any clues as to why people are anxious."
But there are reasons. Let's look at some of them.
Why Seattle suffers... along with other far-left cities.
Today, Virginia will elect a new governor. Just two weeks ago Democrat Terry McAuliffe was leading by a significant margin over the Republican Glenn Youngkin. Today Younkin is leading in the polls by several points. We'll see what happens.
But this after Biden, Obama, and Kamala Harris all campaigned for McAuliffe, with the essence of their speeches focused on Donald Trump.
Joe Biden was elected by people who hated Trump more than they loved America. Otherwise, he would not have been elected. This was his third try for his life long dream to be president.
Biden promised to unite America, and today our country is more divided than ever.
He has broken nearly every promise he made, from leaving hundreds of Americans behind in Afghanistan to so bungling the withdrawal that 13 of our own military were unnecessarily killed.
He promised more jobs, but the mandates he's fathered through surrogates like Gov. Inslee, Kate Brown, and others have cost jobs, not created jobs.
His administration has sponsored an all-out attack on public school children's parents, trying to force parental authority from the hands of parents to the hands of the government.
President Biden, former President Obama, and Kamala Harris have only one message. Donald Trump. And how much they hate him.
Hate is not a vision. Although it may be a motivator, it ultimately creates weariness and exhaustion and destruction.
"Without a vision, the people perish."
NBC anchor Chuck Todd, an undying far-left advocate debuted a new poll on Sunday's broadcast of "Meet The Press" which showed 71% of Americans believe America is on the wrong track---and that number includes a near majority of Democrats.
More than 65% of Americans think the economy is in poor condition and nearly half believe it is going to get worse.
This is not a healthy mental or emotional climate.
Wall Street Journal: "Democrats killing the American dream."
The article begins with this: "President Biden's American Families Act makes one political reality officially clear: The Democrat Party has given up on the American Dream."
They note that the public policies that are being presented are policies created to redesign American society.
The policies are designed to make Americans more, not less dependent.
The article is a very good look at how foreign the Biden policies are to those that built this nation, and those that destroy a nation and an individual.
About Seattle's anxiety.
Winston Churchill said, "The future is unknowable, but the past should give us hope."
Seattle may have more, but it isn't the only city suffering from anxiety. It is a pandemic all its own. Today's anxiety is rooted in the sense of not knowing what's coming next. Not trusting leadership and its ability.
The past tells us that the passion for freedom---especially religious freedom---runs deep in this nation, and it will not be easily stolen.
John Winthrop preached a sermon en route to America, even before he and his fellow settlers reached New England. The sermon is famous, primarily because of one phrase within the sermon, the proclamation that "We shall be as a city on a hill."
Beginning in the 1970s Ronald Reagan placed that line---that belief, at the center of his political career and never faltered in that belief.
More importantly, Jesus told all His followers that we are to be light in a dark world, and salt in a decaying culture.
That's the vision that dispels anxiety because it gives eternal purpose and vision..
Jesus said in John 14:27:
"Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."
The peace of the world is merely the absence of conflict. The peace of Christ is a peace that is indescribable and undeniable. Even in the most trying circumstances.
Philippians 4:6 tells us to be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The Prophet Isaiah said (35:4), "Say to them that are of a fearful [anxious] heart, Be strong, fear not, behold your God cometh with vengeance, even God with a recompense, he will come and save you."
Be Informed. Be at Peace. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful.