As I was performing the mundane task of mowing my swampy crawfish laden lot, I had a transcending surprise — a redheaded woodpecker swooped down for a snack of a grasshopper.

I have seen this beautiful indigenous bird many times, but never up so close in all of his splendor. We have other pretty birds who make their home in our clime: mockingbird, cardinal, blue jay and brown thrush; but the redheaded pecker and his ineffable colors — red, white and black — are so artfully blended and complement each other. The colors of the University of Georgia can not compare. Note: the Audubon society says that one quarter of all birds in the U.S. are headed for extinction.

My point is: artificial manmade structures can never be a facsimile for nature. Biological life is “perfect.” That is why life is worth living.

We have the neocons, Tea Partiers and other regressives led by likes of Ted Cruz, John Boehner and our “pit bull” Jeff Sessions, who want to dismantle EPA, deny climate warming (even though 98 percent of reputable scientists are settled on the evidence … does this remind anyone of Big Tobacco and their indoctrination of the 50s and 60s — when some doctors said tobacco was good for you?)

And what do we see and hear from so-called political conservatives? The rush to discredit our president, who is trying to conserve and preserve our wilderness, and stop Big Coal and Big Oil from indiscriminately polluting our environment. Health superseded economics.

But lets talk economics: unemployment is at around 6.1 percent, fewer executive mandates have been enacted than any other recent president, more illegal aliens have been deported than by any of the latter. Nine million more U.S. citizens have health care than before the ACA (and if about 25 governors had signed on for the additional Medicaid, there would be about 5 or 6 million more covered — note this, Governor Bentley of Alabama)

Of course there have been irregularities, mis-statements, and negligence within this administration, but this has been true of every administration, lest we forget our history. This is life, especially human life. We are made of flesh and blood — not asphalt, steel or robotic materials.

I am betting on this progressive administration. The “race” isn’t over.

Robert Mays
Atmore