It seems like such a short time ago that the Republicans had a slim
majority and were threatening to do away with the filibuster. It was
called the nuclear option then and the Democrats were horrified that the
Republicans would trash such a time honored tradition as the filibuster.
Well, they didn't, but they kept threatening to. Now it is the Democrats
who have the slim majority and it is they who are threatening to trash
the filibuster and it is the Republicans who are aghast that the
Democrats would dare threaten such a time honored tradition. What can I
say? Bourgeois politics can be so amusing.
___
Carl Sagan “It seems to me what is called for is an exquisite balance
between two conflicting needs: the most skeptical scrutiny of all
hypotheses that are served up to us and at the same time a great
openness to new ideas. Obviously those two modes of thought are in some
tension. But if you are able to exercise only one of these modes,
whichever one it is, you’re in deep trouble. If you are only skeptical,
then no new ideas make it through to you. You never learn anything new.
You become a crotchety old person convinced that nonsense is ruling the
world. (There is, of course, much data to support you.) But every now
and then, maybe once in a hundred cases, a new idea turns out to be on
the mark, valid and wonderful. If you are too much in the habit of being
skeptical about everything, you are going to miss or resent it, and
either way you will be standing in the way of understanding and
progress. On the other hand, if you are open to the point of gullibility
and have not an ounce of skeptical sense in you, then you cannot
distinguish the useful as from the worthless ones.” ― Carl Sagan
On 4/19/2021 9:39 PM, Mana Kharrazi, MoveOn Civic Action wrote:
What's blocking gun violence reform, voting rights and a slew of other democracy-protecting and civil rights bills from becoming law in America?
Dear MoveOn member,
What's blocking gun violence reform, voting rights, and a slew of other democracy-protecting and civil rights bills from becoming law in America? It's always been the filibuster, an archaic procedural tool in the Senate that's been weaponized against progress and has entrenched conservative minority rule for generations. *The filibuster is another vestige of white supremacy* that's allowed senators to protect the interests of racist segregationists, the NRA, and those who oppose democracy.
*Will you watch and share this charming video that explains what the filibuster is and how it is racist and why the time has come to do something about it?* <https://act.moveon.org/go/153136?t=6&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>
Image: Thumbnail of the video player. Blue background with yellow text, which reads: The filibuster and why its suuuuuuper racist. <https://act.moveon.org/go/153136?t=7&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>
Watch and share! <https://act.moveon.org/go/153136?t=8&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>
Many people assume the filibuster has always been around (it hasn't) or that it's been used for good (not true). So we need to help folks understand how it's been abused for decades and the obstruction it's causing now. For much of the filibuster's history, *its primary purpose has been to protect a racist minority dead set against passing laws that protect voting rights, civil rights, and democracy*. It was routinely used to stall or block civil rights bills despite majority support, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The filibuster blocked over 200 anti-lynching bills and dozens of civil rights bills.^1
*_Just click here to watch a short, snappy, utterly compelling video unlike any you've seen yet about the filibuster—and share it with friends and family so we can change how folks understand this racist, regressive tool. <https://act.moveon.org/go/153136?t=9&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>_*
It's past time to abolish the filibuster, because it gets in the way of the relief and progress we need to create an America that works for all of us. *Everyone in America needs to know about the racist history of the filibuster, so watch and share the video today.* Let's end the legacy of segregationists in the Senate before the filibuster inflicts more harm.
Thanks for all you do.
–Mana, Olga, Emma, Stephen, and the rest of the team
P.S. You don't need to be on Facebook to *watch the video there <https://act.moveon.org/go/153136?t=10&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>*!
Source:
"The Senate Filibuster Is Another Monument to White Supremacy," /The Atlantic, /June 27, 2020
https://act.moveon.org/go/150473?t=12&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd <https://act.moveon.org/go/150473?t=11&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>
*Want to support our work? *Together, we made Donald Trump a one-term president! Now, it's time to expand access to health care, fight for citizenship for the undocumented, reform policing, and tackle the climate crisis.
*Will you chip in to power the fight for bold, progressive change?*
*Click here to chip in *$3*, or whatever you can afford.* <https://act.moveon.org/donate/civ-donation-footer?suggested_ask=3&source=mailing-footer&t=5&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>
Contributions to MoveOn Civic Action are not tax-deductible for income tax purposes. This email was sent to Roger Bailey on April 20, 2021. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here <https://act.moveon.org/me/update/?akid=295406.21799563.6OciXd&mailing_id=295406&source=mailing-footer&t=13&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, click here <https://front.moveon.org/privacy-policy/?utm_source=mailing-footer&t=14&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>. To remove yourself from this list, click here <https://act.moveon.org/unsubscribe/unsubscribe/?akid=295406.21799563.6OciXd&mailing_id=295406&source=mailing-footer&t=15&akid=295406%2E21799563%2E6OciXd>.
