We live in a representative democracy. We the citizens don’t legislate directly, we elect politicians to legislate for us. We don’t vote on every issue, we just vote once every two years to elect the people who will vote for us. Except when we don’t. Only about 60% of eligible voters vote during presidential election years. Only 40% vote during midterm elections. When on average of only 50% of voters vote, we’re not getting the will of the people, we’re getting the will of only the most agitated. I don’t think that’s how the process is supposed to work. And with this low a voter turnout; if on average only half the eligible voters vote, what’s with these voter I.D./suppression initiatives that keep popping up? With those, we’re way more likely to discourage or turn away an eligible voter than to prevent a fraudster from voting. I don’t think that’s how the system is supposed to work either. How could we find our way to “Of the people, for the people, and by the people”, instead of “by the most alarmed”? How could we get more people to vote; get more people motivated? Elections are turned by small differences in small precincts that all add up to making a very big difference.
Sandpipers
Our “seasonal pond” out front has been discovered by wading birds. 
White-faced Ibis. 
White-faced Ibis. Ding. Ding. Ding. Ding.
Foul. Beto O’Rourke. He’s done it. He finally went negative too. He called Ted Cruz a liar.
Along the way
Longhorn Caverns State Park. One of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) project from the 1930s. We’ve got them all over Texas; all still in use; all fantastic in their use of local materials. Looking down to the cave entrance. 
Looking back up from partway down. 
If you’re not familiar with the CCC, it was a New Deal program that operated after the Great Depression from 1933 to 1942 all over the United States, providing work for unemployed unmarried men. As well as providing employment and training, it was dedicated to the conservation and development of natural resources. The CCC literally built the Texas State Park system.
Looking back up from partway down. If you’re not familiar with the CCC, it was a New Deal program that operated after the Great Depression from 1933 to 1942 all over the United States, providing work for unemployed unmarried men. As well as providing employment and training, it was dedicated to the conservation and development of natural resources. The CCC literally built the Texas State Park system. Summertime
And the cotton is high. 
High enough to be harvested. 
It looks like a lot of cotton left on the stalks after harvest, but I guess that’s just the economics of the process. I suppose it will be turned under with the stalks.
High enough to be harvested. It looks like a lot of cotton left on the stalks after harvest, but I guess that’s just the economics of the process. I suppose it will be turned under with the stalks.