Like many of you I’ve received many entreaties to urge my Senators and Representative to pursue passage of health care reform through the tactic of reconciliation. It’s an interesting option and because it has impact on the budget it likely is viable. But I’d suggest a different approach.
Before Mr. Brown of Massachusetts is seated, the Senate should vote to eliminate filibusters.
I don’t propose this lightly. Filibusters are an important tool which can be used to mitigate tyranny by a majority. Tacit requirement of a super majority in the Senate was envisioned to enhance the deliberative process. The thinking was that the more time elapsed between introduction of a measure and the passage or defeat of it, the more time would be available for investigation and analysis. But it turns out not to work that way.
In practice, filibusters amount to political posturing and the threat of them creates opportunities for political extortion and bribery.
Faced with an opposition which only opposes – having no desire to govern in any responsible way – Democrats should reluctantly take their opponents' favorite toy away while they’re still able. Republicans say they love democracy – I say let’s give it to them. Let’s try government by majority rule for a while and see how it works.
Eliminating the filibuster would clear the way for affirmative action on many other progressive issues which don't lend themselves well to the reconciliation approach. That's the biggest advantage.
If you agree, that’s the call you should make to your Senators.