What happens when the Senate can't agree on how the Senate works? One part of it thinks it's making rules and passing laws, and the other part denies the validity of those actions. What is the result?
If at any time, a simple majority can throw out the rules and run Congress as they see fit, we have a tyranny of the majority and the end of civil society. To stop such a tyranny would require their own foolishness to allow themselves to be deposed by election, or negotiations to bring them back into civility, or violent revolt.
If they are not able to realize their full power, then perhaps in 2006 we can depose them by election. We should in parallel pursue the front on defining the culture of this nation. If we can mobilize a vast majority of civic minded people, specific stances on issues aside, then we can move on and get back to issues. Issues may need to take a back seat so long as the very system is under attack. You can't win any policy victories through political, democratic means without a democracy to practice in.
To settle this for posterity, amend the Constitution. Too long we have let things go as tradition and lesser law. Those are ephemeral and there are some things that we now know that should be codified. I think we can see both extremes without looking too far. The California State Constitution is amended too much and has grown to be bloated, but the United States Constitution has left too many things vague and open to interpretation.
So, let's fix the system. Let's make some interpreted items more explicit. Amend the Constitution to:
- Guarantee a person's right to their body.
- Establish national corporate law and establish that corporations do not qualify as 'persons' endowed with rights.
- Separate 'marriage the religious ceremony' and 'marriage law', remind governments to get out of religion, and ensure non-descrimination in the granting of the benefits of marriage law.
- End the electoral college and have a real, nationwide direct election of the President.
And I'm sure lots of you have some other good ideas for amendments to the United States Constitution, the highest law of the land, our statement of core principles writ into rules of operations.