Block

Senate Republicans blocked the vote on Chuck Hagel to be Defense Secretary. This marks the first time a minority of Senators has ever used the Filibuster to prevent the conformation of a Cabinet nominee. The Filibuster has gotten worse and worse over time. It used to be only used to block major pieces of legislation, like Civil Rights. Then it was used to block every single piece of legislation ever. And then it was used to prevent judges and mid-level staffing of government. And now its being use to prevent the staffing of high government offices.

The Filibuster, rules that allow the minority to block the will of the majority in the Senate, has rendered the United States Government incapable of action. It is a fundamental breakdown of the governing structure of the Country.