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Swede Atlanta

(3,596 posts)
8. I would not eliminate it entirely but bring it back to its original intent and form.....
Wed Nov 14, 2012, 03:56 PM
Nov 2012

Our entire political system is designed to protect the interests and rights of minorities.

States with small(er) populations are protected from domination by more populous states by having the House membership allocated on the basis of population but the Senate being comprised of two Senators from each state regardless of population.

The electoral college system was created both because the Founders did not think the populace should directly choose the President because they simply couldn't be well informed or educated enough to make that decision as well as a means to protect the less populous states to a certain extent.

The filibuster was another embodiment of that protection by giving the minority party a means to prevent cloture and therefore an up or down vote. It used to require the minority party to actually physically filibuster by keeping "debate" open. If you watch Mr. Smith goes to Washington with James Stewart you will see that concept in action.

It used to be you only had to have 51 votes for cloture so the physical filibuster was necessary. But now the Senate rules require 60 votes, something that virtually neither party in the majority will ever have. That said, the Democrats, even in minority have not abused the privilege of the filibuster the way the Republicans have, especially under chin-less McConnell as minority leader.

So I would not want the privilege eliminated completely because it is likely the Democrats will be in the minority again one day and it might be useful.

But I think we need to find ways of limiting its abuse. First thing we need to go back to simple majority or at least not a super majority required for cloture. Then force the minority party to actually filibuster which means keeping debate open. They used to keep cots they would bring in because someone in the minority party has to keep talking even if that means reading the telephone book, etc.

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