The filibuster's purpose used to be to achieve an important government objective - foster bipartisan compromise and thus have measures pass with support from both parties. Filibusters today have a totally different purpose - to prevent the majority from moving forward with its agenda with absolutely no intention of compromise and support.
Understandably, therefore, talk is rife among Senate Democrats (not just the progressives) to kill the filibuster. It is hardly likely in this highly partisan atmosphere that voting rights legislation, or any of the key Biden initiatives will be able to get the key 60 votes, which would require 10 Republicans in this Congress, needed to move a measure to a vote.
The filibuster was designed in and for a different political world. One where the partisan lines were not so hardened, where party discipline was not so strict. In the current atmosphere, the filibuster promotes minority rule. That goes against the principles of our democracy.
But rather than kill it, i would suggest the following reforms. First, require that those choosing to filibuster work for it, as in the original rules. Require that Senators truly filibuster, hold the floor with non-stop speeches. And second, require that the filibuster end within a given time frame, perhaps a few days. If negotiations for a bipartisan compromise are not successful, the majority should be able to pass it's desired legislation. That would allow opponents to make their point and encourage negotiations, but it would not allow minority rule.
