When the Reichstag caught fire in 1933 it was only a few months before Hitler assumed total power over Germany.  Now that Germany has reunified and moved its seat of government to Berlin there are numerous reminders of what absolute power can do.  The first is the Holocaust Memorial just to the south of the Reichstag.  The second is the new dome on top of the building.

This dome is a glass structure built right over the deliberation chamber of the Bundestag (Germany’s legislature).  Visitors can go up into the dome for free and get a) a good view of the city and b) a good view of what their government is doing.  There are mirrors in the center so that as you climb up the dome you can always look down and see what’s going on.  Politicians, then, only need to look up to be reminded of who’s really in charge – the people.  I thought it was a really cool structure and an even better idea.