I am writing this post as an inquiry from readers as much as a proposed course of action. And hoping to start a conversation about it. My knowledge of the process is limited, so I tentatively put this forth to suggest a discussion about how we as a community might try to suggest to the congress at large that it may be time for urging the Democratic party that we consider reforming the Senate filibuster. I feel it is long overdue. I’d be interested in hearing from others who either agree or disagree. We have been hearing rumblings of some possibility for Democrats to win back the congress. With Trump’s implosion there is now talk on both sides about the possibility of Democrats taking back the House this year if enough moderate conservatives decide to sit out the 2016 elections. Possibly in numbers unseen since 1964.
As such there is open talk among Republicans that we might upset the House of Representatives as well as having ever more likely assurances that our party will wind up winning the White House. If we win that rare trifecta I think we need to reflect on opportunities previously missed and taken. In 2008 despite having that trifecta, since the 1990’s the Senate has created a virtual minority status for any party which ‘controls’ it. We did make a good bit of progress, but it was not enough to implement broad sweeping change beyond the ACA. Which itself was a largely compromised piece of legislation which still has some problematic holes in it because of the patchwork trade-offs to get it out of the door. We are currently in an endless loop where even a party with such an advantage cannot ultimately make rapid use of such an advantage. I posit that we repeat historical precedence of losing it that control again in 2018. If Democrats gain full control of the legislative and executive branches we still cannot make the sweeping changes which such an adventurous position was supposed to reflect.
Looking back to the past there was a time when control of the Congress and the White House was put to especially good use by Franklin Roosevelt to kick start our country out of a great depression and put into place the beginnings of the New Deal. That was the beginning of a golden age for America and liberal thinking and processes. For 40 years, when centered on the poor and middle class and labor with a fervor comparable to the GOP’s current relentless defense of the NRA, it made us a country unlike any other in history. In part through the enormous spending on infrastructure and services to its citizens, like widespread, affordable college education,and Social Security which were put into place. The building of vast public infrastructure including the interstate highway project and completion of some WPA works from the depression created many jobs. These investments, although fading today due to disrepair, were so potent that still 60+ years later they still resonate throughout the land. He had to accomplish much of that initially through a narrow window.
In this day an age because of filibuster abuse, most of the time with the simple threat of a filibuster accomplishing the same goal as winning one, the Senate has become a largely neutered house. I believe that if we win both houses, that we must campaign for and argue strongly now that the Democrats enact serious filibuster reform. To the maximum extent which is possible. I understand that we will never, in one step if ever, get back to the Jimmy Stewart sort of one person talking filibuster as the only avenue for it to be exercised. Ultimately I would expect it to be a multi step process which would whittle away at the filibuster over several election cycles. But I believe we need sufficient changes in short order to break the cycle of a majority largely having its hands tied.
Until that time, I believe that the public will not taste any real benefits in the commonwealth that would begin to dismantle the braking system on progress in place by Republican obstructionism. It will defer rapidly addressing climate change. It will defer improvements to Obamacare and a public option. It will defer fixing Social Security in short measure. It will defer fair taxes on the wealthiest, and closing corporate loopholes which would allow extraordinary funding to make infrastructure fixes. It will defer greater equal rights for all Americans, especially that of taking Republican hands off of the reproductive freedoms of women.
It will defer possibilities of a $15.00 an hour minimum wage occurring at a reasonable pace. It eliminates possibilities of serious campaign reform, far beyond the repeal of Citizens United and voter suppression. It defers giving unions a fair shake. Having such freedom might also allow new legislation of all kinds which, if need be, present challenges before a more liberal, reasonable Supreme Court as long term legislative strategies. And opportunities to make law of the most progressive Democratic platform ever accepted by the party. Such as instituting and signing into law a progressive caucuses budget. One which for years these have been roundly ignored by nearly everyone, (good luck finding press releases the day after they have been unveiled). And yet this would put into place the economic engine of a new New Deal.
This is how we change our country and send the Republicans packing back into a political wilderness. Not with ideological idealism limited to arguments but with new laws, programs, and regulations to actually improve the lives of most Americans. And to do so, starting within the first 100 days, to implement in two year time span some actual change people can identify. With a rich promise of more to come given another two years. Or four years. Or eventually another decade of actually going back to an upgraded mid-20th century programs and significant change. Brought about by a more level playing field for all and ambitions government investments in our civil and economic environments.
None of which happens if it is a struggle to get every piece of legislation out of a Senate which is hamstrung in fear of the eventual loss of that house. I believe if we don’t start burning our ships on this environmentally degraded shore to battle on and force sweeping changes to occur, changes which will bring the support of 60% or more of Americans next election. If not, gridlock will worsen. And so will our environment. And the furious wounded animal which is the GOP is becoming will trample over America with ever more extremist attempts to limit progress and change. Because, like their elephant mascot which is said to have a long memory, they remember how impotent they were during an age when Democrats and liberal thinking predominated from the 1930’s through the late 1970’s and made it largely impossible for them to advance their overall agendas. The golden goose we gave American needed to be killed by them through slow poisoning. They will do anything to stop what we want now.
I’m not really sure how we would go about raising to the level of senatorial purview. It may be a largely symbolic effort at best. Perhaps a notion of public approval would help it to move forward. There may be some in that house making the argument now. But we should be prepared for it should we tip the House of Representatives to our favor. That would give us an opportunity to dominate the 2018 midterms over a fractured Republican party if we also GOTV with a focus we have trouble maintaining during midterms. Unlike 2008 when each bill was still a Herculean struggle to present to president Obama. It would be much easier to have another chance of winning 2018 if we had a surplus of excited voters. Especially some who don’t always vote for our party.
I know that there is not much time for us to pressure the Senate to do this. But not long ago, with pressure from outside the Senate (thank you David Waldman!) as well as from within it we did have the first small reforms which stopped Republicans from putting federal judges on the bench. As then perhaps those changes can come later if they need to. But to initiate them right away is a time advantage which might not be worth sacrificing. I would like there to be some hope for, those of us who think it important, to consider how it can be done. For our party to be truly effective, should we be so fortunate, we need to be ready to strike while the iron is hot.