Comments on: Dysfunctionocracy http://organon.jimhufford.com/2010/02/dysfunctionocracy/ An instrument of Jim Hufford Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:02:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Jim Hufford http://organon.jimhufford.com/2010/02/dysfunctionocracy/comment-page-1/#comment-68 Jim Hufford Thu, 11 Feb 2010 23:08:02 +0000 http://organon.jimhufford.com/?p=550#comment-68 I wouldn't be too sure that folks won't notice or care if the Democrats were to nuke the filibuster. A move like that could be perceived as changing the rules in the middle of the game--which is in fact exactly what it would be. Americans may not know how many votes it takes to break a filibuster, but they understand that there are rules of procedure. And changing the rules to reach an outcome that couldn't be achieved otherwise is paradigmatically unfair conduct. That's playground stuff that everyone would recognize. "Cloture" doesn't mean much to the public at large, but everyone understands cheating. And if it's not widely believed that the current rules are unfair or undemocratic, then nuking the filibuster is going to look like cheating. That said, I'm planning to write some more about the different ways we could abolish the filibuster. I wouldn’t be too sure that folks won’t notice or care if the Democrats were to nuke the filibuster. A move like that could be perceived as changing the rules in the middle of the game–which is in fact exactly what it would be. Americans may not know how many votes it takes to break a filibuster, but they understand that there are rules of procedure. And changing the rules to reach an outcome that couldn’t be achieved otherwise is paradigmatically unfair conduct. That’s playground stuff that everyone would recognize. “Cloture” doesn’t mean much to the public at large, but everyone understands cheating. And if it’s not widely believed that the current rules are unfair or undemocratic, then nuking the filibuster is going to look like cheating.

That said, I’m planning to write some more about the different ways we could abolish the filibuster.

]]> By: Len http://organon.jimhufford.com/2010/02/dysfunctionocracy/comment-page-1/#comment-67 Len Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:02:15 +0000 http://organon.jimhufford.com/?p=550#comment-67 I agree with Lee. People want results. I can see where the filibuster maybe was a a good idea to stop truly heinous legislation but the way it's threat is deployed today on legislation that GOPers supported 15 years ago is nuts. Harry Reid appears to be not too popular among the citizens but maybe that's because he is perceived as weak. If he actually broke the filibuster and said "Democracy now!" then maybe he'd get some credit for it. I agree with Lee. People want results. I can see where the filibuster maybe was a a good idea to stop truly heinous legislation but the way it’s threat is deployed today on legislation that GOPers supported 15 years ago is nuts. Harry Reid appears to be not too popular among the citizens but maybe that’s because he is perceived as weak. If he actually broke the filibuster and said “Democracy now!” then maybe he’d get some credit for it.

]]> By: Lee http://organon.jimhufford.com/2010/02/dysfunctionocracy/comment-page-1/#comment-65 Lee Tue, 09 Feb 2010 03:03:23 +0000 http://organon.jimhufford.com/?p=550#comment-65 which is exactly why Dems should just nuke the filibuster altogether (I believe Republicans refer to it as 'the Constitutional Option,' right? haha). Certainly among political types heads would explode, but most Americans wouldn't care. And, hey, even if they failed the hysterics from the chattering class would at least serve to educate the rest of the country about this stuff. ps. i responded to the comment you left over at my place which is exactly why Dems should just nuke the filibuster altogether (I believe Republicans refer to it as ‘the Constitutional Option,’ right? haha). Certainly among political types heads would explode, but most Americans wouldn’t care. And, hey, even if they failed the hysterics from the chattering class would at least serve to educate the rest of the country about this stuff.

ps. i responded to the comment you left over at my place

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