Filibuster or cowardice?

When a vote in the Senate of the United States is 51 to 49, the side with 51 votes wins and the bill is passed.
No, I'm told, that is the way it used to be.  Now the opposition uses the threat of a filibuster and the victory disappears.
This is an expression of intellectual dishonesty and abdication of duty. 
I believe that the Senate should force the opposition to filibuster rather than cave in and accept it as a foregone conclusion.  Make the opposition talk and talk and talk until the nation has had enough of it and  sees who needs to be replaced or forces the opposition to give up and accept the will of the majority who voted for the bill.
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