What If There Was No Filibuster?

[babylonsister]

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/05/21/what_if_there_was_no_filibuster.html

May 21, 2012

What If There Was No Filibuster?

Joshua Green: "Let's take only the Obama presidency. Had the filibuster not applied, the United States would have a market-based system to control carbon emissions, which would limit the damage from global warming, vitalize the clean technology sector, and challenge other large polluters like China and India to do the same. The new health care law would have a public option. Children of undocumented immigrants who served two years in the military or went to college could become US citizens. Women paid less than their male colleagues because of their gender would have broader legal recourse against their employers. Billionaires would not be able to manipulate the political system from behind a veil of anonymity."

http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-18/opinion/31749851_1_filibuster-public-option-senate
Taking on the F-word

[zbdent]

1. We, the people of this reality ...

would not be able to recognize the U.S. ...

[AngryAmish]

2. Then we would have a parlimentary system

The Supreme Court could then be all powerful or marginalized.

[CreekDog]

7. we would have gotten a Civil Rights Act passed a decade earlier

and Universal Health Care.

etc. etc.

[AngryAmish]

8. And we would have invaded Iran during Bush the Stupider's years

[Scurrilous]

3. K & R

[Romulox]

4. It is *vital* to our democracy that 20% of the population can stifle any and all progress. Vital.

Just like the "House of Lords" is vital to parliamentary systems.

I mean, I believe in "one person, one vote" as much as the next, but sparsely populated rural states' votes should simply count for more.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

5. I was told Reid had a choice on whether or not to reaffirm this rule? At the beginning of the

session?

Is this true?

[Zalatix]

6. We'll wish we had a filibuster if the GOP controls Congress

and the Democrats need the ability to gridlock them with said technique.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

9. "Let's take only the Obama presidency."

That's all you need to know about "what IF there was no filibuster"...

sP