This book is scarier than a mystery novel! Jefferson warned that the Roman Republic fell when the ruling class began to ignore the Constitution. If anyone listened to him then they aren't now.

Over time the Constitution has been abused by every branch of the government. By the Executive which has applied it's 'privilege' and 'order' to skirt it, by Congress who feels that all they require is the will do do something and get away with it because they can, and by the Judicial which legislates from the bench and imposes their own interpretation onto most every issue.

If Jefferson feared the government would become contemptuous of it's citizens and the republic would disintegrate into tyranny it appears he was even smarter than he has been given credit for.