The remarkable propensity for Americans to band together in associations and groups to leverage their political power and influence struck him two centuries ago. Freedom of assembly and speech doesn't just mean demonstrating peaceably in the street. It is democracy as it is practiced in the US, as it has always been practiced. When you add to that the modern arts of propaganda, public relations and advertising, combined with the power of modern media, you get what we have now.
Everyone who has lost a propaganda campaign hates the system, just as anyone who has won one treasures it. I'm afraid there is nothing we can do, or should do, about that now.

A few years ago, when I was conducting my lonely (and doomed) campaign to try and frustrate my industry's efforts to institute an accreditation program for GIS technicians, a young Canadian geographer emailed me to thank me for my efforts and express his support. He added (I paraphrase, of course),

"I really envy you Americans, when something like this comes along you raise holy hell and make real pests of yourselves. Even if you don't get your way, you aren't afraid to do a little rabble-rousing and if there's true support for your ideas you have a fighting chance of getting something started. We Canadians are too dignified and too polite, and we let the government and business walk all over us."

I tried to reassure him that Canadian institutions had nothing to be ashamed of, and Canadian tolerance and good manners had a well-deserved reputation. But I was also very proud I, and my country, had managed to make that impression on him.