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Election reform seems like a meaningful issue to tackle: what could be more fundamental to our Democracy? Democrats seem poised to make their best effort, but i

Election reform seems like a meaningful issue to tackle: what could be more fundamental to our Democracy? Democrats seem poised to make their best effort, but it's extremely difficult to do with 50+1 votes in the Senate. I wouldn't characterize D's as not doing anything on this specific issue.

nielsbot 5y ago
Their "best effort" would be to change the filibuster and get it done. You're talking about the current voting reform bill(s)? Manchin is taking the heat for holding this up, but the problem is broader than that: There are a handful of Dems (at least) whose sponsors also don't want this bill to pass, so I'm not holding my breath for any reform happening in this area. And where are Biden and Schumer? They are pretty quiet on this whole situation.
- JMTQp8lwXL 5y ago
  Biden and Schumer can't unilaterally decide Manchin's vote for him. This is a democracy, after all. Conversations are likely happening behind closed doors. So we shouldn't critique Democratic leadership just yet.
  - favorited 5y ago
    And, if they piss off Manchin or try to punish him for not getting in line, all he has to do is change parties. Then Mitch McConnell is Majority Leader again, and no one gets anything.
- memling 5y ago
  > Their "best effort" would be to change the filibuster and get it done. This seems like an iffy proposal. Changing most judicial nominations to simple majority has had a significant impact on the judiciary. Eliminating the filibuster for potentially short-lived gains while handing opposition a nearly blank check for future legislative victories seems like a long-term problem. It seems likely to exacerbate political tensions rather than relieve them. One can argue that the deliberate nature of the Senate is inimical to justice and therefore has to change, but when the pendulum swings in the other direction it may prove to move too rapidly to injustice.
  - nielsbot 5y ago
    I say we try it. Let us not worry about what may happen in the future. We have pressing needs now--for example, reducing the influence of money in American politics. The Senate should be made more democratic now. If the Senate flips in the future due to the will of the people, we will blow up that bridge when we get to it.
    - memling 5y ago
      > We have pressing needs now--for example, reducing the influence of money in American politics. Is this a higher priority than reducing political tension/violence? Or is it worth increasing the likelihood of political tension/violence by eliminating the filibuster? > The Senate should be made more democratic now. If the Senate flips in the future due to the will of the people, we will blow up that bridge when we get to it. This seems short-sighted. What does it even mean? How would it solve any problems if the opposition could undo the work in a matter of a few years?
nielsbot 5y ago
Pretty infuriating that the Senate can only do what monied interests want or don't care about. Making Juneteenth a holiday is one of those things.

nielsbot 5y ago

Their "best effort" would be to change the filibuster and get it done. You're talking about the current voting reform bill(s)? Manchin is taking the heat for holding this up, but the problem is broader than that: There are a handful of Dems (at least) whose sponsors also don't want this bill to pass, so I'm not holding my breath for any reform happening in this area. And where are Biden and Schumer? They are pretty quiet on this whole situation.

JMTQp8lwXL 5y ago
Biden and Schumer can't unilaterally decide Manchin's vote for him. This is a democracy, after all. Conversations are likely happening behind closed doors. So we shouldn't critique Democratic leadership just yet.
- favorited 5y ago
  And, if they piss off Manchin or try to punish him for not getting in line, all he has to do is change parties. Then Mitch McConnell is Majority Leader again, and no one gets anything.
memling 5y ago
> Their "best effort" would be to change the filibuster and get it done. This seems like an iffy proposal. Changing most judicial nominations to simple majority has had a significant impact on the judiciary. Eliminating the filibuster for potentially short-lived gains while handing opposition a nearly blank check for future legislative victories seems like a long-term problem. It seems likely to exacerbate political tensions rather than relieve them. One can argue that the deliberate nature of the Senate is inimical to justice and therefore has to change, but when the pendulum swings in the other direction it may prove to move too rapidly to injustice.
- nielsbot 5y ago
  I say we try it. Let us not worry about what may happen in the future. We have pressing needs now--for example, reducing the influence of money in American politics. The Senate should be made more democratic now. If the Senate flips in the future due to the will of the people, we will blow up that bridge when we get to it.
  - memling 5y ago
    > We have pressing needs now--for example, reducing the influence of money in American politics. Is this a higher priority than reducing political tension/violence? Or is it worth increasing the likelihood of political tension/violence by eliminating the filibuster? > The Senate should be made more democratic now. If the Senate flips in the future due to the will of the people, we will blow up that bridge when we get to it. This seems short-sighted. What does it even mean? How would it solve any problems if the opposition could undo the work in a matter of a few years?

nielsbot 5y ago

Pretty infuriating that the Senate can only do what monied interests want or don't care about. Making Juneteenth a holiday is one of those things.