"I am sure the mass of citizens in these United States mean well," wrote Washington to John Jay in 1796, "and I firmly believe they will always act well whenever they can obtain a right understanding of matters; but in some parts of the Union, where the sentiments of their delegates and leaders are adverse to the government and great pains are taken to inculcate a belief that their rights are assailed and their liberties endangered, it is not easy to accomplish this; especially as is the case invariably when the inventors and abettors of pernicious measure use infinitely more industry in disseminating the poison than the well-disposed part of the community in furnishing the antidote. To this source all our discontents may be traced, and from it all our embarrassments proceed. Hence serious misfortunes, originating in misrepresentation, frequently flow and spread before they can be dissipated by truth."
(The Writings of George Washington, Vol. 13, G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1892.)
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You mean nothing has changed in over two hundred years?!