Her om dagen ble jeg invitert tilbake til 1800-tallet av en medforumist, som mente jeg hadde antikvariske oppfatninger om hva som skjer i samfunnet. Så nå har jeg gått til begynnelsen av det hundreåret. Thomas Jefferson skriver til en utgiver av en ny avis, og oppfordrer denne til å motarbeide den aristokratiske holdningen til samfunnet. Denne antikvariske oppfatningen er også relevant i dag, og kan forklare noen overvåkningsimpulser - fra brevet:
Men by their constitutions are naturally divided into two parties:
1. Those who fear and distrust the people, and wish to draw all powers from them into the hands of the higher classes.
2. Those who identify themselves with the people, have confidence in them, cherish and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise depository of the public interests.
In every country these two parties exist, and in every one where they are free to think, speak, and write, they will declare themselves. Call them, therefore, Liberals and Serviles, Jacobins and Ultras, Whigs and Tories, Republicans and Federalists, Aristocrats and Democrats, or by whatever name you please, they are the same parties still, and pursue the same object. The last appellation of Aristocrats and Democrats is the true one expressing the essence of all.
