In the 1700's, the main source of news was either newspapers or talk amongst neighbors. Today, we have the internet, television, newspapers, and radio. The past life of the public officials is nipped and picked at, and examined with a fine toothed comb. When George Washington was elected president, he was never questioned on anything in his past on the public stage.
Modern media today looks for any imperfection in a public figure, and attacks it. George Washington, in his youth, was known to be a swindler, or in other words, he stole money. Even as an adult, Washington continues such a practice. This time, he justifies his actions by his seemingly never ending quest to become a gentleman. …