Benjamin Franklin was a member of a leet hacker-clan/secret society called "Junto."
Franklin was a socially and politically effective hacker who created the leading edge of science, technology, and society. He was responsible for breakthroughs like lighting=electricity, and inventions like bifocals and the Franklin stove. His printing operation was the 18th century equivalent of the web (the number of newspapers in the colonies expanded from a couple of dozen to a few hundred during his life, and he funded the creation of several of them)…
The Junto had a series of questions they'd ask at each meeting. It's revealing…
5. Have you lately heard how any present rich man, here or elsewhere, got his estate?…
6. Do you know of any fellow citizen, who has lately done a worthy action, deserving praise and imitation? or who has committed an error proper for us to be warned against and avoid?…
14. Have you lately observed any defect in the laws of your country, of which it would be proper to move the legislature an amendment? Or do you know of any beneficial law that is wanting?…
15. Have you lately observed any encroachment on the just liberties of the people?…
23. Is there anv difficulty in matters of opinion, of justice, and injustice, which you would gladly have discussed at this time?
(via On Lisa Rein's Radar)
