The reason the Big Lie is so destructive and dangerous is that it allows bigotry and hatred to hide behind a claim to civic virtue (“we are just defending our government!”). It scrambles their adherents’ sense of loyalty, which makes it easier to recruit, e.g. military, LEOs, etc

It’s also why it’s so dangerous that these adherents (QAnon) are *in* Congress. Normally terrorist groups are, at best, given a CHOICE to lay down arms in return for political participation — and even then, there is a concern that doing so legitimizes them. We just let them do it

Imagine if we had members of Congress who belonged to, and represented, e.g., ISIS, or the FARC. (!!!!!!) And yet that is what is happening, and is apparently totally normal, with regard to domestic terror groups. And Republicans embrace them! It’s mind boggling.