-Nathan Newman defends the California Democratic machine -because Republicans in the Legislature have more than 33% -of the seats. He defends the US Senate Democratic machine -because Republicans in the Senate have 52% of the votes- -even though the D's 48% is eight more than the percentage -required to block *any* legislation. Go figure.
Yes, please go figure. A little political mathematics training would be useful for people who ignore the dynamics of vote threshholds in shaping political choices.
On issues where a majority vote can pass legislation in California, I've extensively documented the pro-union, pro-choice and pro-environment laws passed by the Dems in the state. On budget issues, however, a two-thirds vote is necessary, so the GOP can block budget related policy such as taxes. Since the Dems are willing to pass tax hikes on the wealthy rather than budget cuts, while the GOP are the ones blocking tax hikes-- thereby forcing cuts as required by the state constitution, it is perverse to blame the Dems.
At the federal level, you have almost a reverse situation. On non-budget legislation, you can block almost all legislation with 41 Senators-- and the Democrats have done so with a range of legislation in the last two years-- ANWR, antichoice legislation, etc. On budget issues, however, due to the 1974 Budget Act, a simple majority vote immune to filibuster can force through tax cuts with their 52% of the vote no matter what the Democrats might want. So the Dems without a majority in the Senate can block tax cuts only to the extent they can recruit GOP Senators to support them.
So those are the political figures.
-- Nathan Newman