There's a moment in the movie and Broadway show 1776 (book by Peter Stone) when John Hancock is speaking with Pennsylvania delegate John Dickinson, the leader of the Conservative movement in the Congress at hand. Mr. Dickinson is denouncing John Adams and others who are advocating independence from Great Britain…
Dickinson: Be careful, sir. History will brand him and his followers as traitors.
Hancock: Traitors to what, Mr. Dickinson? The British Crown? Or the British half-crown? Fortunately, there are not enough men of property in America to dictate policy.
Dickinson: Perhaps not. But don't forget that most men with nothing would rather protect the possibility of becoming rich than face the reality of being poor. And that is why they will follow us.
You get the feeling that the 2012 election in this country will be all about testing that premise?