It’s Time for Lubbock to Stand United Against Time Changes
Let's be honest, you're probably not in the best of moods today. And Sunday was probably worse. Thanks to the time change on Sunday, there's a good chance you will feel tired most of the week. Isn't it more than fair in 2022 to ask, why we must continue living this way?
We're a nation full of smart people, yet only two states have figured out how to not change times anymore. Arizona and Hawaii are the two states that do not observe daylight saving time. The U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, America Samoa, Northern Marina Islands and Guam are also united in ignoring daylight saving time.
Most Americans can't agree on anything these days, but according to the Washington Post, two-thirds of us want to stop changing times twice a year. See, we are united on an issue, doing away with time changes. We all know it's dumb and yet every year, twice a year, we do it and then we complain about it and our lawmakers say something like, 'Yeah, I hear you, I don't like it either' then they chuckle and walk away to discuss something else.
Not only is it an issue we all basically agree on, it's a health issue as well. And I mean beyond the tired and grumpy moods a time change can put us in. According to CNN, sticking with daylight saving time can help prevent heart attacks and stroke:
The rate of heart attacks spikes by 24% in the days following "spring forward" in March, according to a 2014 study from the University of Michigan. Another study, published in 2016, found stroke rates may also increase by eight percent. Year-round daylight saving time could also decrease the likelihood of fatal car accidents, which jump six percent in the days following the time change, according to a 2020 study from the University of Colorado.Stolen evening sunlight can also negatively impact mental health. A Danish study found hospitals see an 11% uptick in patients with symptoms of depression immediately following the switch from sunnier daylight saving time to the darker standard time in the fall. By making our days brighter year-round, we can also permanently speed up the clock on seasonal depression triggered by the dark days of winter.
This is why I feel that it's time for all of Lubbock to stand united and just say no to more time changes. Let's tell our lawmakers locally, statewide and nationally that we've just had enough of doing the time change. And then urge them to stand with us.
Who knows? Maybe Lubbock can be the home to the death of the time change. We can rally others in West Texas, then throughout Texas to stand with us. We could even have a flag with a clock on it and below it could say, "Come and Take It." Let's do this, Lubbock. Let's resist the time change and not "fall back" on Sunday, November 6th, 2022.
Let's make this happen. Otherwise in November, prepare to be in a bad mood again.