A study in scarlet* (and green and black)

 

A post four days ago revealed that on the morning of April 2nd I went wandering through Springfield Neighborhood Park in southeast Austin. After several coral honeysuckle flowers (Lonicera sempervirens) along the path beckoned to me I heeded their colorful call and was pleased with some of the abstractions I came away with. While photographers often consider the shadows that flash casts a defect, in this case I found the shadows enhanced the composition by adding radiating linear black elements that not only echo the flowers’ red ones but also simultaneously create a third set of alternating green ones.

* Shades of Holmes and Watson

 

 

 

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With elections in the United States already contentious, the group called Braver Angels has issued a “Trustworthy Elections Report,” which outlines what it identifies as seven broad areas of concern:

Fair and Equal Access to Voting: Today, some citizens encounter significant barriers to voting,
while other citizens find few, if any, impediments. Our election process should strive to remove
barriers so that each citizen has an equal and reasonable opportunity to cast their vote.

Verifiable Voter Identity and Eligibility: There is some evidence, although rare, that some
voters are misrepresenting their eligibility to vote. Voters should be required to identify
themselves and prove their eligibility before casting a ballot.

Transparency and Accountability: Every citizen should be able to understand the election
process. There must be reasonable opportunities to observe election activities. The processes
related to training poll watchers and civics education should be based on best practices.

Redistricting – Gerrymandering: Voters should be able to decide who they want to govern
them. Instead, today, politicians and special interest groups draw gerrymandered redistricting
maps, through which they pick their preferred voters instead of the other way around. This
practice must end.

Confidence in Vote Counting: Every legal vote should be counted as accurately as possible.
Checks and backup documentation must be in place so that voters are assured that vote counts
are complete, accurate and unbiased.

Safety and Security in the Elections Process: Everyone involved in administering elections
must be able to do so safely and without fear of intimidation. Election processes must have robust
defenses against fraud and interference.

Peaceful Transfer of Power: Americans will not trust the outcome of elections if their leaders
sow the seeds of doubt. Candidates must ultimately accept the results of elections, provided there
is a robust process to resolve disputes. Violence must never be used to decide an election in the
United States.

 

 You can read the report for the details of 23 specific solutions the group proposes.

 

© 2024 Steven Schwartzman