1. United States
2. Vt.
3. Letter

I saw today that the Senate confirmed Markwayne Mullin to serve as Homeland Security Secretary. Well done, folks! I understand that neither of Vermont’s Senators voted in favor of this, but it does not cast the Senate in a flattering light to confirm a thug who will almost certainly expand ICE’s active campaign of domestic terror. People used to call the U.S. Senate the world’s “greatest deliberative body”, but those days are clearly long gone. It’s sad and disappointing, but it’s also an opportunity to reform the institution before it dies of neglect and/or hostile takeover by a power-hungry Executive. I strongly support filibuster reform — up to and including its abolishment. I support term limits, as a Constitutional amendment if necessary. I support all sorts of “good governance” / enforced ethical standards, such as bans on stock trading, participation in betting markets, and limiting the revolving door of lobbyists. It’s long past time that we, dare I say it, _Make the Senate Great Again_. You would have my strong support if you took up the cause.