When Republicans control the Senate, the filibuster is an essential tool to preserve Democracy. When Democrats control the Senate, the filibuster is not only “unconstitutional” but and evil tool used to obstruct the will of the people.
Philosophically, I’m not sure I agree with the filibuster. Any legislation must pass both houses of Congress and be signed by the President, and stand up to Judicial review. I’m not sure it is right that 41% of the Senate should be able to block any bill, approved by the other 59% of the Senate, a over 50% of the House and the POTUS.
Practically speaking, I love the filibuster because 95% of laws that Democrat congresses try to pass and probably 60% of laws Republican congresses try to pass are bad for the country and/or go beyond the limited powers granted to the Federal government by the Constitution. From a strictly, practical standpoint, anything that causes fewer Federal laws and programs to be passed, is more often than not, a good thing.
Sure. I would say, throw a graph of the national debt and problems we have had on top of the rise of the filibuster. It sure looks like we are shooting our self the bird.