Democracy is fast becoming a joke in Colorado where the Democrat Party has learned to rig elections in the state legislature for their favorite candidates by having someone else run for that office.

There are currently 24 Democrats in office who got that way because they bypassed the election system and were appointed by a special panel vote of party insiders as soon as the incumbent resigned before their term ends.

Now they’re quitting before their new term in office even begins.

Soon adding to that outrageously high number is State Sen. Janet Buckner of Aurora, who was just reelected two weeks ago yet announced this week she will resign just as soon as the new legislative session starts Jan. 9.

Buckner follows on the heels of State Sen. Chris Hansen who was also just reelected, and announced last week that he too will resign on the first day of the new session.

Both will be replaced by party leaders in their respective districts that serve on those vacancy committees.

That would put the percentage of Democrats in office who were first elected by party vacancy committee instead of their voters at 36%.

By comparison, only six Republicans serving in both chambers were first elected by vacancy committee.

Why is it that so many Democrat lawmakers are running for reelection only to quit?

That’s not a rhetorical question, voters are demanding an answer.

These tactics are appearing even more blatant now that both Buckner and Hansen announced their resignations just days after winning reelection.

Are lawmakers getting better retirement or health benefits just for getting elected to another term without ever having to actually do the job?

If only it were someone’s job to ask these questions of our elected officials …