Unpack the Court, end the filibuster.

[malthaussen]

It doesn't take a genius to see that these are the two short-term tactics Congress could take to stop the rising tide of reactionary totalitarianism. But there is a problem: the Democrats do not have a reliable majority in the Senate to take such actions.

The argument "if we do it to them, then they will do it to us" is specious. They could always have done it to us, they just have not found it necessary. Before you say "Aha, then it is foolish of us to make it necessary," you should remember that they're already getting their way in all things, so letting them continue to get their way without a struggle is equally foolish.

Perhaps it would be well if the Democrats could grasp the slender power they now have, and make things so much better thereby that the voters will endorse them in future elections, rather than reject them as impotent.

-- Mal

[mobeau69]

1. Don't you mean "Pack the court"?

[malthaussen]

2. Works either way.

The Court is currently packed. Packing it in the other direction serves to unpack it.

-- Mal

[thucythucy]

3. We should also realize that WE are in the majority

on pretty much every issue that matters.

We Democrats have won the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections. We also typically garner more votes overall in House races than Republicans.

If we would only pass legislation that guaranteed one person, one vote--which means addressing jerrymandering as well as voter suppression--the GOP wouldn't come close to either winning the presidency or the House, not in the foreseeable future anyway. The Senate would continue to be a problem, but one person one vote could put a number of swing states into play there as well.

Given this reality, Republicans can choose one of two options. They can either try to offer policies that the majority--in some cases such as reasonable gun regulation the VAST majority--support, or they can do what they can to cheat and rig elections.

We all know which option they've picked.

To come out swinging--like FDR did during the first days of the New Deal--would be a winning strategy top to bottom. I simply don't understand why more of our leaders don't grasp this simple reality.