Senate Blocks Buffett Rule 30% Tax Floor on Top Earners.

[CaptainHaplo]

Originally Posted by Skybird

Prime example is the hate-filled emotional trench warfare in the US, but in principle it is present everywhere.

Like this thread.....

And somebody mentioned how filibusters precent congress and senate from deciding. What puts the US aside from the West is that there a minority can delay and even prevent a basic democratic principle: that is that the decision gets formed my majority vote. That is what democracy is about: majority votes. Filibustering is the way to bypass this unwelcomed little detail.

No Sky, you misunderstand our government. We are - as was discussed - a representative republic - where the representatives are elected by a democratic process. The House operates more as a "democracy" while the Senate has rules in place that prevent a pure "majority rule". This is - much to the chagrin of some - on both sides depending on who has a majority - by design. It protects the people and make it harder for the government to rule by 51% telling the other 49% how to live.

The design helps insure that one party must have a strong mandate from the people - as demonstrated by the # of elected representatives in congress - to enact legislation. The difference between "majority rule" and a filibuster proof majority is a mere 10% - if a party cannot meet that threshold, then it has no strong mandate.