My problem with (self-appointed) elites in government is that they often seem to have a theoretical understanding of the needs of the "little people". I heard the point made, I believe by John Stossel, that it is impossible for anyone to know what the needs of all the citizens are because there are simply too many perspectives. This was an argument for maintaining a limited government as a means to protect the "native wisdom" of the population. While it may start a larger argument, this notion goes to the concept of "legislating morality" that our side often falls into.
I believe this also goes to the point of the government closest to the people being the most representative and the government furthest away being the least. "the country", "the State" and "Washington" being the author's definitions.
On a side note... and you may have covered this already... are the italicized portions of the text YOUR italics or the author's?
The author’s. I have maintained his italicization, and in cases where the author preferred all capitals — no doubt thanks to the printing exigencies of the time — I have rendered them in italics, which would be the modern usage.