# Wisconsin orders arrest of missing Democrats.  Legal?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-orders-arrest-of-missing-democrats-legal/573396>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [March 3, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-orders-arrest-of-missing-democrats-legal/573396 "2011-03-03T19:15:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 63

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**Author:** ![Rumor\_Watkins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@Rumor\_Watkins](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rumor_Watkins)\
**Post date:** [March 5, 2011, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wisconsin-orders-arrest-of-missing-democrats-legal/573396/63 "2011-03-05T00:49:20Z")

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> [@Lobohan](#):
>
> They aren’t doing anything illegal. Were you of the opinion that Republicans who filibustered were doing something wrong? I think the abuse of the filibuster was rancid because they did it on everything. This is about one specific issue that will viscerally wound unions.
> 
> They are utilizing a loophole to enact the public will. As I say they can be recalled if the populace finds them derelict in their duties.

never said they were doing anything illegal. I said that what they’re doing isn’t consistent with a democratic form of government. fillibustering (while I would share in your characterization of it as rancid and retarded) is a component of a legislative assembly. it shouldn’t, but it is.

not showing up to do something that you were elected to do - and which comprises the very essence of a democratic form of government - is not.  
and I’m not sure why you feel that recalling absentee legislators is a valid response, but somehow overturning enacted legislation by subsequent recall or election isn’t really good enough.

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