I completely disagree with the conclusion of the Nov. 26 editorial, “Fiddling with filibuster: Senate Democrats’ rule change a nod to today’s politics, and one they may regret.” Irrespective of what the Democrats in the Senate may or may not do now with regard to the filibuster, there can be no doubt that if the Republicans ever win the presidency, the Senate and the House at the same time, they will remove the filibuster on legislation to facilitate the abolition of Social Security, something they have long wanted to do and advocated by President G.W. Bush, among others.
Also, Paul Ryan, the Republican chairman of the House Budget Committee, has provided in his budget for Medicare to be transformed into a voucher system and this budget has been supported by the House Republican caucus including Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Camas.
The present-day Republican Party is more radical and extreme than it has been for many years and we can expect drastic changes to our way of life. Anyone doubting that the Republican Party has become very extreme need only consider that at a recent public meeting, a member of the board of the Clark County Republican Party threatened to “fillet” a Clark County commissioner who happened to be a Democrat.
Ruth Stevens
Vancouver
