The Charleston Daily Mail ran an odd editorial on Tuesday urging people to donate to the major political parties.  ”It is too bad that West Virginians care so little about democracy and state politics,” said the editorial.  ”It was 233 years ago that a group of men in Philadelphia pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor for the independence of this great nation.  Is it too much for voters in West Virginia to give a buck or two to the political party of their choice?”

I think the Daily Mail is confusing democracy with political partisanship.  If I remember correctly, there were no political parties when that august group of gentlemen pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor in Phily.  If these men had known the levels to which political party squabbling could degenerate, I daresay they might have decided to stick with the Brits.