As an opinion writer in the Guardian put it yesterday, how long are we going to tolerate minority rule?

Right now, the filibuster is letting the Republican Party prop itself up and remain powerful despite that a large majority of Americans oppose their agenda.

We needed bold action this term in Congress. We needed the Democrats to axe the filibuster to pass strong voter protective legislation and admit at least Puerto Rico and Washington DC into the Union as states with Democratic senators.

We needed the Democrats to pass the strongest possible anti-gerrymandering laws.

In short, we needed the Democrats to take the country back to reflect the majority they indisputably are.

We’re getting none of that, and the chance to restore our representative democracy is probably gone for the foreseeable future.