The Nation: This is not what democracy looks like.

[DrToast]

Filibustering the Public

This is not what democracy looks 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.

Unless Harry Reid and his colleagues implement majority rule--by abolishing rules that allow two-fifths of the chamber's members (as few as forty-one senators) to prevent passage of that legislation--the character and quality of any "reform" will be dictated by a tiny minority from some of the nation's least populous states.

(more)

http://www.thenation.com/doc/20091214/editors

I'm glad to see the anti-filibuster movement gaining momentum. This bullshit has to stop.

[valerief]

1. We are the Soviet Union before the fall. nt

[Ikonoklast]

3. Not even remotely.

We are the largest economy on Earth, still the largest manufacturer of finished goods, and the fourth largest exporter on the planet.

We are not even anywhere near what the former Soviet Union was, before the dissolution.

[jgraz]

8. Agreed. We are the United States of America before the fall

I'm guessing about 5 - 10 years unless Obama shapes up.

[Ikonoklast]

11. I wouldn't bet the farm on that.

The hysteria here lately is borderline irrational.

[depakid]

15. When a nation can no longer respond to problems in a timely manner with effective policy

There's nowhere to go but down.

[truedelphi]

13. Big problem that exists though is that

This "Largest economy on earth" is very unevenly divided. When the upper two percent control more than ninety percent of the gains of the economy, do you really think this nation will remain a stable entity for long?

People are fed up. When a financial adviser like Catherine Austin Fitts says her clientale is at the point of rebelling, then we are in trouble. It's not like her clients are street gangstas.

[carnie_sf]

25. Actually

we are the roman empire before the fall

[Cha]

2. Thank you, editors from

The Nation!

[tridim]

4. Two thumbs, way up.

[RepublicanElephant]

5. the ruling class always has its little safeguards built-in. nt

[d_b]

6. funny

i don't recall repubes having this problem...

[bluethruandthru]

7. Rep. Alan Grayson was on Keith last night

and said over 100 bills are stacked up in the Senate waiting to be voted on but the republicans won't allow that to happen. WTF!!

[DrToast]

9. I'm glad he's bringing attention to it, but he doesn't go far enough

If I understand, he's saying that it should be lowered to 55 votes. I think it should be lowered to 50+1.

[bluethruandthru]

12. Agreed.

I had no idea how bad the problem was.

[HughMoran]

10. revolution

[jillan]

14. The thing about the filibuster, I was sure glad we had it when the last admin was in place and

I'll be just as glad we have it when and if the next repug admin is in place

[CTLawGuy]

22. +1

excellent point.

[Better Believe It]

27. Ya. It sure stopped Bush's legislation and Supreme Court picks!

Just make the Republicans filibuster instead of surrendering to filibuster threats and fake "call it in" filibusters.

[uponit7771]

16. **************FDR HAD 80% DEM CONGRESS********************

[RepublicanElephant]

18. thank you!

elections matter.

[DrToast]

20. What does this mean?

Why would you post this here?

[Blue_Tires]

17. as i mentioned in another thread, it would be nice

if before every long-winded talking points regurgitation, senators would have to divulge the lobby they are going to bat for...

[Firstzar]

19. Amen!

Kick and rec!

[CTLawGuy]

21. I'm sorry

it's more than a few senators holding up reform. The Republican obstruction strategy is NOT HISTORICALLY NORMAL. Bills actually used to pass with less than 60 votes. Republicans used to actually vote for "radical" social change bills. People are forgetting the role of the Rs in this.

The solution is not to get rid of the filibuster. I remember the outrage because the Ds wouldn't filibuster Sam Alito. One day we either will be glad there is a filibuster or we will wish we had it back.

The solution is to punish the party who has been abusing the filibuster at the polls. Unfortunately, that might not happen because too many on our side do not fully understand the situation.

[DrToast]

23. So....

The solution is not to get rid of the filibuster. I remember the outrage because the Ds wouldn't filibuster Sam Alito. One day we either will be glad there is a filibuster or we will wish we had it back.

So you want the filibuster because you're afraid of democracy. Got it.

[Prophet 451]

28. So am I

The problem with democracy is that so much of the electorate is so unutterably stupid.

[pundaint]

31. If they're so stupid, then why can't our side manipulate them too?

The problem is lack of commitment to what we want to happen, and the resulting lack of creativity in bringing it about.

The Stupids are up for grabs, lets grab some for our side. A smart loser is still a loser.

We progressives and liberals have a limiting belief that being smart and correct is enough. The problem in the real world is that the stupid do not have the capacity to recognize smart, they try, but they are stupid and they get it wrong. The Opposition knows this and deals with the Stupid at their own level. Who are the smart ones?

[pundaint]

30. close, but which party takes a firm stand for "our side"

While the party's membership may have different opinions about what is to be done, those who have made it to Congress apparently feel that retention of their own power and perks is the primary goal of government.

Our guys should fight for our will against their guys, but our guys are really corporate guys too. We are not represented.

Sure all the Republicans should be voted out, but so should any of our guys whose first allegiance is to retention of power.

It's not their power, it's ours, and we only let them borrow it to work for us. When they stop using that power for us, as now, we must take it back and find somebody better to wield it.

If we replaced every Republican with an average Democratic Congressman, would the policy's change all that much? We'd get a lot of bills passed, but they would still all be to the conservative side of center. Our system is set up to be competitive, and both sides are supposed to fight for the supremacy of their ideas. I demand a fight for the liberal side, or some new contenders.

[polichick]

24. K&R

[Better Believe It]

26. What authentic filibusters on the Senate floor have taken place this year?

[BrklynLiberal]

29. For later reference..