If you are proposing a modification of the filibuster rules through cloture motions or some other mechanism, I find that a lot more palatable than an outright dismantling of it. The filibuster serves the purpose of providing stability as I described, and I wouldn't want to see its removal. If the filibuster were to go away, it would only be a matter of time before every important piece of legislation passed by Democrats since FDR would be washed away.

I've been watching with interest how the Senate is using the reconciliation process to move forward with legislation. It seems to be a convenient tool for passing bills with a simple majority, but it's subject to enough constraints to prevent chaos. It's an imperfect solution to a difficult problem.

I think that lowering the threshold to cloture to 55 would have some effect, but unless the minority party falls to 54 members, a united caucus could still use the filibuster as an obstructionist tool.