Episode 25 : The Importance of the Filibuster

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"Madison did not design government to be easy, he designed it to be difficult, for unrelenting process and debate" - Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan D- New York

There is no more important tool in the arsenal of the minority party when it comes to maintaining some sway with legislation in the United States Senate than the legislative Filibuster. It is a tool with a very interesting history. That history is often used whenever the majority is trying to figure out a way to take it away from the minority party too. There is no better way to defang your minority party than to fix it where they have no way to stop your agenda at all. 

But is that fair?

 I would say not. 

Here we will discuss the history of the Filibuster and even look at its most famous use, by Senator Strom Thurmond for 24 hours and 18 minutes,  to stop civil rights legislation in the 1950's and the filibuster was used again in 1960's until LBJ figured out a way to break it. 

 Just remember for those advocating taking it away,  that whatever you do today you will have live with tomorrow. Taking away the filibuster will effectively change the way our United States Senate works and turn us into a system where the radical agendas of either party can be implemented without compromise and repealed the exact same way. Is that really the type of country you want to live in?

 Is that even an effective way to govern?

I don't think so and neither will you, if and when, the shoe is on the other foot, one way or the other. 

Questions or comments at , [email protected] , https://twitter.com/randal_wallace , and http://www.randalwallace.com/
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