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May 12, 2005
Why the Filibuster matters
Many, if not most, laws are inacted to protect the weak, or minority from the powerful. Civil Rights, labor, environment and health laws are prime examples of this. Throughout history in many circumstances and cultures a majority has used their political and/or military power to control, repress and oftentimes kill minorities or groups who did not agree with them. The filibuster has been used in American politics from the early days of our country's birth. See a short history at the U.S. Senate web site here.
Imagine a worse case scenario, where a President is either a member or a close friend of religious extremists, an American Taliban type group. Many American liberals feel we currently have such a situation. He rewards his "partners" with more than a couple nominations to the Supreme Court. His party controls both chambers of government, ensuring appointment if there were no filibuster and only a majority was required for appointment. These individuals, like members of the Taliban in Afghanistan, are closed minded, dictatorial, reactionary, paranoid people who make decisions based on their religious beliefs. They are able to swing a large number of Court decisions in such a way that many former rights are changed, so much so that our country becomes a religious state, dictated by a powerful group of spiritual fanatics.
Is this farfetched? Perhaps, but perhaps not. Many stranger things have happened in other places throughout history. Our current actions indicate we are not immune from human foibles.
Posted by Chip Spear at May 12, 2005 7:10 AM
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