We'd like to express our disappointment in the Democratic Party, the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, even the Tea Party.
There are three seats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly up for election that cover Warren County and only one candidate on the ballot for each.
There should never be an uncontested election for anything, and especially not for state General Assembly seats.
If nothing else, contested elections produce discussion, debates and exchanges of ideas on important issues. No, they don't have to be muddy contests that focus on personal attacks or innuendos, though we'll admit that politics often descends to that level.
One might forgive the new-comer party on that list. The Tea Party can't seem to decide whether it is indeed an alternative to the two major parties or a subspecies of Republican, thus its reluctance to put up a candidate to challenge the two unopposed Senators and one unopposed representative who have elephants in their standards.
But the Democrats? Come on, you've been around long enough to know the game. You work with your faithful, recruit candidates and support them to give voice to the planks in your platform. While your goal may be to simply win the seat, in the process you have ensured that there is a discourse that makes democracy not just lively, but responsive to a wide variety of ideas.
Please don't tell us that in the vast reaches of the 25th and 21st districts you can't find one candidate willing to take up the mantel of your party and seek a seat in the Pennsylvania Senate. The 65th State House district, consisting of all of Warren and Forest counties and a smattering of McKean, must contain somebody sufficiently disenchanted with the incumbent to risk a challenge with the help of his or her party.
While there may be a dearth of candidates, we don't believe there is a shortage of state issues to discuss, from taxes to social services, from education to law enforcement, and dozens in between.
They haven't been discussed in this campaign season, nor will they. After all, why bother to run when all you have to do is walk?