Sure, I’ll admit it. I may be a little wet behind the ears, maybe not as long in the tooth as others… so I might be mistaken from time to time. But that’s why I choose to SPEAK OUT. To clarify. To educate, both myself AND others. How else would we find the answers that we seek?

In an OPEN and HONEST debate, the best ideas always rise to the TOP. 

That is why we are here today! It’s the cornerstone of our Democracy. Ideas are proposed and discussions commence. Improvements are added, weaknesses are highlighted, and legislation is voted upon… but that’s currently NOT the case in the United States Senate.

Legislation is NOT voted upon. Legislation is proposed, debated, enhanced and amended, and then… no vote. Even when that legislation has passed the House… no vote. Even if a MAJORITY of Senators approve… no vote. The Will of the Majority is overruled by the Minority.

40% IS GREATER THAN 60%. 

40% of the people know what’s best for this country… there must be something wrong with the rest of us. 

In order to stop the Majority from imposing its will upon the Minority. To protect the smaller States from the larger, more populous States… as if the Great State of California, to its own detriment, would actively pursue an agenda to harm another part of this Union!

It would be a rational fear to have… if we were living in 1776. 

… 

We must never forget the Presidency of Donald J. Trump. The passions and fire of ONE MAN, unleashed upon the people. Stoking anger and division for more than four years, and still… he could not convince a MAJORITY of this Nation that he was correct. Even with every outlet available to him, the PEOPLE were not convinced… THE PEOPLE were correct.

The MAJORITY of this Nation STANDS for Liberty and Justice for ALL. Not everyone believes in this… that is why they are in the MINORITY.

The MAJORITY of this Nation fights to protect the Rights of ALL citizens. It does not seek to hinder or harm, it seeks to elevate everyone. EQUALLY. Anyone seeking to protect the Rights of the Minority by standing OPPOSED to the Will of the Majority should consider UPDATING their position… in-light of the conclusions drawn from our most recent ‘experiment’.

Re-reading the words of our Founders, we can see our opinions have evolved considerably over the last 200 years. Roughly ONE THIRD of the words written about the Senate in The Federalist Papers are now GARBAGE… Senators are no longer selected by the Legislatures of the individual States. We ABANDONED that practice long ago and decided the PEOPLE should choose their Senators by direct vote. And why is that? More participation equals Better Governance.

IF your position is so STRONG, why is it you cannot rally a MAJORITY of support? IF your position is to stand opposed to the Majority, so be it. Please do so… Clearly. Make sure EVERYONE knows exactly where you STAND. When time shows your position to be correct, the Majority will stand with you.

And until that day comes, the MAJORITY of this Nation will support and defend your right to SPEAK OUT. Debate and dissent are essential to a thriving democracy, and we are all working toward the SAME GOAL: a more perfect Union.

… 

The United States Senate is the greatest deliberative body in the world INSPITE of the filibuster, not BECAUSE of it. The filibuster KILLS debate, it does not encourage it.

What makes the Senate superior is the six year term. The House, being elected every two years, is more closely tied to the fires and the passions of the People in the moment; whereas the Senate, not being constantly consumed with winning re-election, can work with a more deliberative approach to legislation, bringing a more informed and careful eye to the situation…

At least, that’s how it’s supposed to work.

Reading through these theoretical suppositions, written over two centuries ago, where within these paragraphs do they speak of the ability of ONE MAN to override the will of the Majority? How are those actions characterized? What are their opinions of such actions…

They speak of TYRANNY. They use it as an example in their demonstrations, of what it is they were attempting to AVOID… THIS is what we fear, so we want to create a governing body that will produce the OPPOSITE of these acts. 

They saw the demise of our Democracy coming in the form of a consolidation of authority. An abdication of power by one branch of government, allowing it to become subservient to another. But they did believe it could right itself, if it ever did come to pass. 

Unfortunately, as studious and thorough as they were, they were still unable to foresee the Dark Arts necessary to accomplish such an act… 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you…  

THE FILIBUSTER. 

… wiser words never spoken.

-JC