There is a story, often told, that upon exiting the Constitutional Convention Benjamin Franklin was approached by a group of citizens asking what sort of government the delegates had created. His answer was: "A republic, if you can keep it." 

I listened to the MSNBC Morning Joe podcast this morning in which Joe Scarborough says (paraphrasing): "Don't worry, it isn't as bad as you are fearing, our constitutional republic will survive." 

First, I don't think we should take anything for granted. There are things our constitutional republic cannot overcome, there is nothing written in stone that guarantees the republic will stand. 

For example, if the people in our government chose to not live to the spirit of their oath to uphold and defend the constitution, I  believe the republic can fall.

And here in lies my problem. Scarborough is asking me to trust Congress and trust the Supreme Court to fulfill their obligations as the checks and balances against the Executive Branch. 

The key word here is trust. Trust is something earned, and frankly nothing that Congress and the Supreme Court has done in the last four years has earned my trust. 

In my eyes, time and again over the last four years the Republican-led Congress has put party over country. They refused to govern, passed hardly any legislation, and would not compromise on anything. From being willing to default on our loans to refusing to even have hearings on the next Supreme Court justice. 

Time and again during Trump's campaign, Ryan and McConnell have had opportunities to stand up to their party's nominee and put country before party, and time and again they refused. Are we to believe now, with a Republican in the White House, they are suddenly going to stand up to him when he proposes something unconstitutional or not consistent with our values? 

Frankly, my worry is less with Trump and more with Congress. I want to believe that the checks and balances instituted by the Constitution will in fact protect us, but I am honestly afraid they will not. 

And here in lies the threat to the republic. When citizens lose faith in the very fundamentals of our government they begin to think it might as well be replaced, it simply represents business as usual that is causing them pain. 

It is not enough to simply tell people to not worry. It's not enough to tell people you will be faithful to your oath. You must walk the talk. You must demonstrate that there is in fact a line no one, no matter which party, can cross. 

I don't know Congress' line. I don't know the Supreme Court's line, I thought it was non-partisan but that is demonstrably false. My hope is that I know the military's line.