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The Nation argues that the filibuster is not what democracy is supposed to look like.
When Americans vote, by overwhelming majorities, to place control of the executive and legislative branches in the hands of a party that has promised fundamental change, they are supposed to get that change. They are not supposed to watch as a handful of self-interested and special-interested senators prevent progress by exploiting the arcane rules of the less representative of our two legislative chambers–rules requiring that not a majority but a supermajority be attained in order even to discuss necessary reforms, and that a similar supermajority be in place to thwart a filibuster.
Yet this is where America, a nation often inclined to tell other nations how to practice democracy, finds itself as the debate about healthcare reform reaches its critical stage. We have a president who is prepared to sign legislation to expand access to healthcare while establishing at least some controls against profiteering by insurers. We have a House of Representatives in which a majority has voted for imperfect but real reform. We have a Senate in which a majority is ready to vote for what could be even better reform. Unfortunately, that majority is sidelined as a few wavering senators game the system.
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The filibuster is not constitutionally mandated. It was established by rules that have been repeatedly altered over the years. Besides, as Thomas Geoghegan recently noted …, the proper reply to the history buffs is, “Yes, well, slavery and segregation are also part of our history, and that’s what the filibuster was used to defend. I’m all in favor of history and tradition, but I see no reason to go on cherishing either the filibuster or the Confederate flag.”
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No matter where the healthcare debate takes us, Reid and Senate Democrats should commit to getting rid of rules that stifle debate and prevent action, and they should eliminate the filibuster and implement majority rule. That, after all, is what democracy is supposed to look like.
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Filibuster is piracy in action and hijacks the will of the people. There are principles in our past that are worthy to keep but filibustering is as useful as a breast on a bull.We don’t accept piracy on the high seas and we shouldn’t accept piracy in Congress
Democracy has moved on and archaic maneuvors to circumvent the will of the people should be extracted from our legislative assemblies.
“Democracy has moved on and archaic maneuvors to circumvent the will of the people should be extracted from our legislative assemblies.”
To paraphrase one of you guy’s miserably lame arguments, why haven’t you been worried about filibusters in the past??