Franklin Graham has left the Republican party after the last budget vote, which irresponsibly spends money we don’t have and continues funding Planned Parenthood.  I certainly understand Mr. Graham’s disgust.  I have struggled over the years with the difference between what Republican leaders claim to stand for and what they actually do.  He rightly describes the horror of what Planned Parenthood does and the evil of funding them.  Both sides, especially liberals, are fond of slinging the Nazi club when it suits them, but I say the label is too tame for this bunch.  The number of innocent children slaughtered in our country now exceeds the number of people killed in Hitler’s camps five times.

One’s conscience should be affronted by such atrocity and by anyone with power to stop it who chooses not to use that power.  They are complicit in the evil.  Even it writing it down I almost find myself reversing my position.  Do we assume their guilt by associating with them?

However, I must ask you, what is the alternative?  Do we drop out of the political process entirely?  That’s irresponsible.  I believe it is sinful.  We have been given a great resource in this country’s Constitution and we are obligated to steward it well.

Do we form our own party?  How different would its principles be from those of the Republican party?  I’m speaking of what is written down, not what is practiced.  By what means would we insure that we are not corrupted as well?  Libertarians have railed against the two-party system for decades.  What has it achieved for them?  There are other parties who more explicitly state their believes in ways with which many of us would be in complete agreement.  Maybe you’ve heard of one of them.  If not, I rest my case.  If so, have they ever won a significant election?

I respect Mr. Graham’s decision, but I wish he had not made it.  I fear that he will influence others to follow and ultimately destroy our chances for the very kind of reform he seeks.  The system may be sick, but the only way we can hope to bring healing is from inside.  I believe that working within the party to support the kind of leadership we want is the best way to bring about the changes we want to see.

Some day that may no longer be the case.  If the day comes when the Republican party abandons even the pretense of standing for the truth, I’ll be looking for way to support someone who will not.  I don’t think that day has come, and I hope that Mr. Graham’s decision does undermine the efforts of those of us who are trying to make it right.

jump ship, and you may find yourself stranded at sea with only sharks for company.  The better thing to do is take a bucket and start bailing.  You do that by at the very least becoming an informed voter and participating in the primaries.  Let’s get to work!