When you read what the founding fathers had to say for themselves, they
sound more like hackers. "The spirit of resistance to government," Jefferson
wrote, "is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be
kept alive."

Imagine an American president saying that today. Like the remarks of an
outspoken old grandmother, the sayings of the founding fathers have
embarrassed generations of their less confident successors. They remind us
where we come from. They remind us that it is the people who break rules
that are the source of America's wealth and power.

Those in a position to impose rules naturally want them to be obeyed. But be
careful what you ask for. You might get it.

Paul Graham
The Word "Hacker" - http://www.paulgraham.com/gba.html