Filibusters: The Senate’s Self-Inflicted Wound

'According to Webster’s, a filibusterer was “a freebooter or soldier of fortune against a foreign country with which his own country is at peace.” '

One thing that's clearly different about Obama's 100 days than FDR's: the filibuster. According to this article, filibusters were used in FDR's time for the sole purpose of blocking anti-lynching legislation. Today, nearly every vote requires 60% to jump the filibuster hurdle. What ever happened to the days when filibustering was considered a last-ditch effort?

The filibuster is an interesting tool because while its ideal of "unlimited debate" is honorable, the actual use of the tool is not. The minority party in the Senate, whether Democrat or Republican at the time, uses the filibuster to completely nullify the wishes of the majority of the American people (represented by their Senators). While the cloture rule is a good step in limiting the power of the filibuster, it is often difficult to achieve. While I don't believe the filibuster should be completely eliminated, I think there should be guidelines. Like maybe having to actually discuss the topic of the bill instead of reading from the telephone book?