I agree with the story. Did Pirates have the moral equivalence of our founding fathers? No, absolutely not, and thats not what the story is saying, but they were rebels and outcast, and had a rugged individualistic personality, and most important a disdain of aristocracy. The same can be said for many of our early patriots, Militiamen, pioneers and frontiersmen. There is plenty of historic documentation that Pirates and their descendants played a role in the American Revolution. I happen to be a related to the lieutenant on the frigate Josiah which was captained by Pirate Bartholomew Sharpe. No less than 10 men in this family line are on the roster of South Carolina Patriots in the American Revolution. Not bad for the blood kin of a Pirate.
And it could be said that their leaders, our Founding Fathers, were at the very least upper class, though not born into it.