People who don’t think Supreme Court reform is necessary because we can just win some elections and solve our problems legislatively need to understand: The McConnell Court is anti-democracy. It will make winning elections harder.
Republicans know they lose in a functioning democracy so they work tirelessly to protect and expand structures that enable minority rule. And they chose a Supreme Court to help them.
There's an argument that a bit of restraint on pure democracy has value. But:
* Senate is undemocratic
* Electoral college is undemocratic & gave us popular vote loser twice in last 5 elections
* 5 of 9 SCOTUS justices appointed by party that has lost 6 of 7 popular votes
* Senate is undemocratic
* Electoral college is undemocratic & gave us popular vote loser twice in last 5 elections
* 5 of 9 SCOTUS justices appointed by party that has lost 6 of 7 popular votes
We have a deeply corrupt political party that understands it relies on the establishment & preservation of minority rule for its power, and it seized control of the Supreme Court via unprecedented manipulation of the court's size.
What do you think will happen absent reform?
What do you think will happen absent reform?
Yes even with 280, Twitter does not allow enough characters to do more than scratch the surface of the ways our democracy is distorted
Activist Supreme Court conservatives:
* Strike down Voting Rights Act
* Empower money & corporations over people
* Protect GOP gerrymandering
It isn't a coincidence they keep doing things like this. They share the GOP's commitment to rule by a wealthy, white minority of U.S.
* Strike down Voting Rights Act
* Empower money & corporations over people
* Protect GOP gerrymandering
It isn't a coincidence they keep doing things like this. They share the GOP's commitment to rule by a wealthy, white minority of U.S.
And that means all the very good democracy reform proposals Democrats have offered, like HR 1, will likely be struck down by an activist conservative court.
If they don't have a plan for court reform, they don't have a plan to govern.
If they don't have a plan for court reform, they don't have a plan to govern.
There’s a solution: Expand the Supreme Court. No constitutional amendment required, just legislation. Appoint more, better justices.
Statement from @TakeBacktheCt director @AaronBelkin —>
Statement from @TakeBacktheCt director @AaronBelkin —>
Here’s the more detailed case for adding seats to the Supreme Court, for those interested: takebackthecourt.today/the-case-for-c…
Unrelated — except that it’s related.
Republicans spent decades building a television channel to protect their power, too.
Republicans spent decades building a television channel to protect their power, too.
The thing about this (understandable) concern is Republicans have *already* manipulated the size of the court. Failing to respond because we’re afraid of their response to our response is surrender.
We’re in a bad spot with no clean solutions.
If we do nothing, democracy dies.
We’re in a bad spot with no clean solutions.
If we do nothing, democracy dies.
…and so the way forward is to protect and expand democracy, and then fight like hell under a more democratic system to win elections to prevent Republicans from taking power and wrecking democracy again.
It’s risky, but there is no solution that isn’t.
It’s risky, but there is no solution that isn’t.
Reporters covering 2020 Dems should probably ask them how they’re going to govern with a hostile activist Supreme Court striking down their accomplishments and gutting democracy.
Last week’s debate made clear none of them have a plan.
Last week’s debate made clear none of them have a plan.
If this sounds bleak, that's only because our current reality is bleak. We shouldn't have our heads in the sand about that.
Yep. And these need to be Day One priorities: The longer we wait, the harder it will be to do them, because the un-democratic things that need reform (SCOTUS, Senate, etc) will keep working to make reform harder.
Credit where due, @PeteButtigieg has a Court reform plan, though I am *extremely* skeptical it can be done without amendment, unlike simply adding justices. (His plan changes the way they’re appointed & length of terms, both of which are in constitution)
