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Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by gamegoblin on Saturday December 24, 2022 @12:40PM (#34119054)
Yes, the current fillibuster rules require a 60-40 supermajority to get anything done, but the fillubuster rule itself can be changed with a simple majority of 50%+1. But the incentive structure is not there to actually change this rule -- both parties benefit from it.
Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by wyldfire on Saturday December 24, 2022 @12:59PM (#34119256)
> both parties benefit from it.

Is that really the case? It is a bias towards the status quo.

Regardless, IMO the constituents represented by those parties don't benefit from it.

Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by BurningFrog on Saturday December 24, 2022 @01:38PM (#34119699)
> It is a bias towards the status quo.

Not a fan of the status quo, but with two largely insane parties fighting for power, I'm thankful for moderating forces.

Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by bobthepanda on Saturday December 24, 2022 @01:20PM (#34119517)
There are “kingmaker” senators in both parties that cross the aisle occasionally, that this rule benefits (and also generally their specific constituents, since their outsize influence gets them more than they might otherwise get in negotiations.)

Given that these kingmakers are what causes things to go over 50-50 they want to preserve their power.

Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by rewgs on Saturday December 24, 2022 @01:05PM (#34119341)
> both parties benefit from it.

> It is a bias towards the status quo.

These are the same thing.

Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by wonderwonder on Saturday December 24, 2022 @02:28PM (#34120245)
I've decided to actually base my vote on the status quo now. I want divided government because of how radicalized both parties have become. If something is very important, it will get votes from both parties. The current status quo is better than what either party wants
Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by doktorhladnjak on Saturday December 24, 2022 @03:40PM (#34120872)
If a majority of senators did not benefit from having the filibuster, they would repeal it. The minority party is for it because it blocks the majority party. Moderates are for it because it protects them from having to go on the record by voting on controversial issues.
Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by Me1000 on Saturday December 24, 2022 @03:08PM (#34120609)
That’s also not how the Senate works. Senators are beholden to their respective constituencies, not the party of which they’re a member. A conservative Democrat from West Virginia has more job security when he runs against his party sometimes.

Blaming the party rather than individual Senators is not a helpful way of looking at the problem.

Re:Cannabis is legal in most America but federal laws block ... by HDThoreaun on Saturday December 24, 2022 @04:51PM (#34121432)
As much as manchin likes to say, democrats do not benefit from the filibuster. Tons of Republican issues are single issue nonsense that the majority of the country would detest if passed, so republicans rely on the filibuster to just not do anything. Forcing republicans to actually pass laws would be good for democrats politically.

The filibuster continues to exist because it gives people like manchin compete power, so the most moderate of each party will always try to keep it alive.