"Minority Rule"

[CJD]

It's weird to me that walking out works like this. You'd think that an absent vote would default to a no vote and the quorum would proceed as scheduled.

Just like the filibuster, it seems like walking out is a tool installed into the system to prevent the government from doing its job and should, like the filibuster, be eliminated.

I've always felt like the majority should be able to enact their agenda and, if it fails, they will be voted out and the new majority can fix the problems the previous majority created.

Now, the fact that this majority's agenda happens to be "ensuring we keep our power regardless of our popularity via voter suppression" makes this a unique situation because it potentially prevents the above cycle from happening. I am not an advocate of the ends justifying the means, but voter rights are a very sticky situation, given my belief that the majority's agenda should be allowed to fail and allow the people to recognize this and replace them.

For example, I'd be in favor of the minority filibustering/walking out/doing whatever they can if the majority theoretically wrote a bill that said "Republicans' terms are 10 years and Democrats' terms are only 1 year" (pure hypothetical that is likely unconstitutional, but you understand my point, I think). There is a bounds by which I belief intervention is required and restricting voters' rights/ensuring your re-election indefinitely is one of those bounds for the self-perpetuating issues above.