I most definitely think this helped shape our government, especially today. It is not an uncommon idea that the ends justify the means. We have seen a lot of that in the way handle certain policies, like the war on drugs or homeland security.

I very much believe that there should be a better set of guidelines in some form of handbook that a leader should adhere to or at least be familiar with. This isn't to say there is required reading or anything, but just that we seem to lack a very central belief set. As for what needs to be included in that, as much as I hate to admit it, there absolutely needs to be a chapter about the protection of the people, in spite of the people.