For several years I have heard more and more talk from Democrats as to why they have left the Democratic Party.

The common reasons I've encountered are that the Democratic Party rejects Christian values, liberal rhetoric on helping the poor does not match up with reality and the left frequently denounces the armed forces, law enforcement and the American flag.

Just several weeks ago the Honorable Frank LaBuda, retired Sullivan County Court Judge, announced he was changing his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican and that his decision to change came down to philosophical differences.

“Today my values and principles that have guided me throughout my whole life, whether as a soldier, as a prosecutor, as a judge, and as a father are not aligned with the current trend in the Democratic Party. Currently the Democratic party leadership has drifted far to the left, and far from my values and concerns for us. I believe in our constitutional rights to protect our family and our property to the fullest extent of the Second Amendment,” Judge LaBuda said.

The retired judge also took issue with two state issues, the new bail reform that recently went into effect in New York and the recent changes to New York State's deer feeding rules.

Long time Democrats have pointed out in conversation that the left liberals invariably use despicable methods to achieve their goals and that the left only cares about pitting groups against each other and that they are tired of people who don't let you speak if you have proof of what you are talking about.

Has politics become a dirty word, why is the constitution continually attacked?

Compromise to action for the majority good is a fundamental of democracy and it's been said we have lost that fundamental sight of the majority good in the modern business of politics.

Political parties are built upon the ideologies of their respective party members and one must approach the classification of party ideology with extreme scrutiny before jumping to conclusions.

Don't let party ideologies and policy become shameful chapters in U.S. history.

If we could only turn back time when politicians debated and argued their differences as they didn't agree with one another but found in the end that it was just as important to respect each other.

Ed Townsend provides year around "Beyond The News"coverage in this column with over 60-years of photojournalism analysis and insight. The column can also be read on his Web blog at http://bght.blogspot.com