It's the Conservatism, Stupid

[babylonsister]

http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2012/4/3/9850/74980

It's the Conservatism, Stupid

by BooMan
Tue Apr 3rd, 2012 at 09:08:50 AM EST


I don't dispute that we're seeing a conservative revolution in this country, although calling it a coup d'etat is hyperbole. To take just the example of the undemocratic practices of the U.S. Senate, it must be admitted that the Senate rules now in operation are there by the acquiescence of the majority. For good or ill, our government has long operated on the assumption that changes cannot be made unless there is some degree of bipartisan consensus. This has made change hard, but it has also made disruption and disorder hard. In a purely majoritarian system, we would see massive oscillations in the functioning of government, as conservative majorities simply unwound whatever progressive majorities had enacted. It is the Supreme Court's threat to do exactly that to Obama's healthcare system that is the greatest concern presently facing the country.

The conservative takeover of the Republican Party has made it impossible to find bipartisan consensus even on the government's obligation to pay its bills. The conservatism of the GOP is literally breaking our system of government. The conservatism of the Supreme Court of the United States is showing signs that it is prepared to join the destruction. The conservatism is the problem, not the lifetime appointment of judges or the filibuster rule. The filibuster is a hassle at the moment, but it was very helpful during Bush's presidency and it would be even more helpful in a Romney presidency. However, it is unlikely that the filibuster will survive much longer. The Senate rule is in peril not because the Republicans will dishonor it, but because no government, progressive or conservative, can function with a 60 vote requirement in the Senate if there is essentially no ideological overlap between the parties.

Really, the only question is which party will pull the trigger on spiking the filibuster. Since the filibuster protects programs like Social Security and Medicare even in times of Republican rule, it is unlikely that the Democrats will eliminate it. For the same reason, the conservatives will eliminate it as soon as practicable.

The crisis is a result of conservatism in the GOP. Either we find a way to fix that problem, or our country is going to be unrecognizable.