These passages from Daniel J. Boorstin's 1948, "The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson," seem to relate to Hanson's observations of today.
Boorstin says, on P. 177:
"In the predatory societies of Europe, Jefferson discerned the indelible characteristics of the whole species (human beings). His primary question was not what was the matter with European institutions, but what quality of the human animal had made such institutions possible. In 1787, Jefferson wrote from Paris:
'"Under pretence of governing, they have divided their nations into two classes, wolves and sheep. I do not exaggerate. This is a true picture of Europe. Cherish, therefore, the spirit of our people, and keep alive their attention. Do not be too severe upon their errors, but reclaim them by enlightening them. If once they become inattentive to the public affairs, you and I, and Congress and Assemblies, Judgss and Governors, shall all become wolves. It seems to be the law of our general nature, in spite of individual exceptions; and experience declares that man is the only animal which devours his own kind; for I can apply no milder term to the governments of Europe. . . .'"
On P. 178, Boorstin states, "More than once Jefferson reminded Washington that he (Washington) was not immortal, and that his successors would posses the normal human vices of ambition and avarice. There could be no insurance against the reappearance of Caesars and George IIIs. Jefferson refused to pin his hopes on the occasional success of honest and unambitious men . . . . Any government which made the welfare of men depend on the character of their governors was a delusion. This Jefferson observed in criticizing the imperfect separation of powers in the Virginia Constitution of 1776:
"Mankind soon learn to make interested uses of every right and power which they possess, or may assume . . . With money we will get men, said Caesar, and with men we will get money. Nor should our asssembly be deluded by the integrity of their own purposes, and conclude that these unlimited powers will never be abused, because themselves are not disposed to abuse them. They should look forward to a time, and that not a distant one, when a corruption in this, as in the country from which we derive our origin, will have seized the heads of government, and be spread by them through the body of the people; when they will purchase the voices of the people, and make them pay the price. Human nature is the same on every side of the Atlantic, and will be alike influenced by the same causes. The time to guard against corruption and tyranny, is before they shall have gotten hold of us. It is better to keep the wolf out of the fold, than to trust to drawing his teeth and claws after he shall have entered." (Underlining added for emphasis)
One can conclude that this reasoning is the basis for Jefferson's praise for America's written Constitution for self-government--a Constitution by which "We, the People" were to "bind them (elected representatives) down by the chains of the Constitution."
Did Tom call it or what.