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Woody Van Valkenburgh's avatar

The average person sees Congress as, in the best of terms, stalled & stalled for many years, thus, "why care?" Why care to the point of "blow it up!" The current filibuster, in my opinion, is a huge contributor.

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Charlie Stevenson's avatar

Ending the filibuster would do little to make the Senate more democratic or functional. There are too many other ways to obstruct Senate business, including Holds and Filling the Amendment Tree. I could see value in ending filibusters on motions to proceed and changing the rule to "a majority of those present and voting, " and requiring 41 Senators to continue the filibuster. But until more Senators see themselves as lawmakers instead of partisan oracles, the partisanship will make the body dysfunctional. I see more to fear from a radical GOP majoritarianism than from what cannot be accomplished by a 50/50 Senate. While historically the filibuster was used mainly against civil rights, it prevented the killing of Obamacare and the Iran nuclear deal. Full disclosure: I was a Senate staffer for 22 years, and before the filibuster became so weaponized. I'd like to Make the Senate Great Again.

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