Before the Nazi seizure of power in Germany a key element of the fascist strategy for seizing control of the state was to have its elected members disrupt the legislature. The goal, of course, was to discredit the procedural aspects of constitutional, democratic government and reduce the legislature to a farce so as to undermine the legitimacy of the system altogether. By disrupting the workings of the legislature, the Nazis flaunted their contempt of liberal democracy that allowed them their place in government and helped to paralyze the government's response to the economic crisis caused by the Great Depression.
As our representatives debated and moved towards a final vote on health care in the House... I couldn't help but think of Germany's experience as I watched what passed for 'debate' coming from the Republicans this evening:
I know that parliamentary maneuvering is a key part of legitimate, democratic debate in any healthy democracy. But is this what we are seeing?
At what point does opposition and legitimate obstructionism become something darker and more threatening?