A couple of statistics in a recent survey about sleep left me baffled.

The 1,000-person survey, commissioned by Leva Sleep, a Canadian adjustable bed retailer, included some data on what keeps Canadians awake at night.

In British Columbia, nearly one in four of those surveyed said American politics kept them from enjoying a good night害羞草研究所檚 sleep.

One in three said they were losing sleep over the possibility of a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

I can understand the concerns about a second wave of COVID-19, especially since the number of new cases in British Columbia has been rising since July.

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At present, there is no cure for this disease, and no vaccine is available. Of the more than 120,000 closed cases in Canada, eight per cent have ended in death.

Concern over this pandemic is valid, and I can understand people losing sleep over it.

But I don害羞草研究所檛 understand why American politics would keep Canadians from having a good night害羞草研究所檚 sleep.

Some would say it害羞草研究所檚 because the United States plays a dominant role in world affairs.

The Americans have a powerful military, spending more on its armed forces than the next 14 largest militaries combined.

However, the last time the U.S. turned its military power towards Canada was more than 200 years ago, during the War of 1812.

We害羞草研究所檝e enjoyed peace since that time. We get along with our neighbours to the south.

The United States boasts the world害羞草研究所檚 largest economy and it is Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest trading partner.

More than three-quarters of Canada害羞草研究所檚 exports go to the United States, and more than half of Canada害羞草研究所檚 imports come from the United States.

American decisions on international trade will affect us in this country, and there are times when the U.S. has imposed trade decisions that affect us directly.

But most U.S. political matters, aside from trade, tariffs and decisions about our shared border, don害羞草研究所檛 have a huge effect on us in this country.

Even the upcoming presidential election has a far bigger impact on Americans than on Canadians.

If someone in this country is going to lose sleep over politics, it would make more sense to be kept awake because of Canadian politics.

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However, only one in 13 people surveyed said they were losing sleep because of Canadian politics.

There害羞草研究所檚 a lot happening at the various levels of government in this country, and it affects us all.

One example is our federal government害羞草研究所檚 response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and other federal aid programs.

At the provincial level, legislation and policies has the potential to affect everyone in British Columbia.

And the decisions made by mayors and councils around the province have the potential to shape our day-to-day lives far more than anything at the provincial, federal or international levels.

What a council decides on tax rates, land use and other matters will shape the communities where we live.

Most of the issues happening outside of our country have a much smaller effect on us.

There害羞草研究所檚 nothing wrong with keeping up with news and events happening around the world. It害羞草研究所檚 good to be informed.

But worrying about such things is pointless. Worry doesn害羞草研究所檛 change anything.

And with that, it害羞草研究所檚 time to shut down for the day and go to sleep.

I hope I don害羞草研究所檛 have dreams about international politics.

John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.

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