The current election and ballot got me to thinking

 

 

I think our government would be more effective, more representative, and we would all be better off if:

 

All judges and justices, including the US Supreme Court, were appointed by independent commissions.  Nonpartisan commissions, or if they can’t be nonpartisan, fairly weighted based on party affiliation.

 

All voting districts were also set by independent commissions.  Nonpartisan commissions, or if they can’t be nonpartisan, fairly weighted based on party affiliation.

 

Corporations were determined to not be people and only people could make political contributions.  Set a maximum contribution per person, and that includes the candidate.  One person, one vote, no million-dollar contributions, no political PACs.  No dark money.  If that can’t provide enough money for each candidate to present their qualifications, then provide a base level of federal or state campaign funding for qualified candidates. 

 

Maybe we can’t reach the ideal of one person one vote, assuming that is still an ideal, but these approaches might get us closer to it.  And none of this would be that hard to do, if there was a will to do it.

 

 

 

 

 

A twofer

 

 

 

 

A tree and a cactus all at once!

 

 

Oriole feeder

 

 

We had that hooded oriole on the hummingbird feeder.

 

 

So I got an oriole feeder and put it out.  It’s a little bigger, easier for a bigger bird to stand on, and holes designed to be easier to drink from.  Orioles are more attracted to the color orange, so that too.  We’ve got everything just right.

 

 

Haven’t seen an oriole since.

 

I believe they’re gone for the year.  No matter.  They’ll be back next summer.  We’ll pop the feeder back out next spring.

 

The rest of the moths and other bugs

 

 

All on that one wall, in the middle of the day.  Here is the rest of the pack.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lot going on, on that wall.

 

 

The election is over

 

 

Well, for Judy and me, anyway.  We voted a few days back.  It’s good to get that done.  Not on the day of the election, but in-person, ballot in hand, dropped in the box.  We hope every informed citizen votes.  And political parties aside, we hope that in each case, the most thoughtful, respectful, intelligent, decent, and capable candidate is elected.

 

While we were voting though, something struck me.  There must have been a dozen judges and justices on the ballot, and each one was identified as a Republican or Democrat.  What?  What does political party affiliation have to do with judging?   Justice is blind, right?  The scales of justice are held by a woman with a blindfold on.  Should personal persuasion have anything to do with interpreting the law?

 

And now for something completely weird

 

 

 

 

It’s a plume moth.

 

 

Not like most moths we see!

 

Green Lacewing

 

 

 

 

Green Lacewing adults are minor pollinators, feeding on nectar from flower to flower.  The larvae, known as aphid lions, are a natural pest control, consuming many different kinds of harmful bugs like aphids.

 

 

They look so delicate.  Almost transparent.