I think it would be interesting to see the party affiliation with your responses if you don't mind. I am a Centerist who is registered with the Republicans but socially I lean very strongly to the left. I am trying to be an optimist. I believe the government does work for the common good, even if it sometimes does a lousy job. I do place a certain amount of trust in the system.
Government is like fire, that dangerous servant and terrible master.
Yes, in a way. I trust it to injure or kill me if I don't keep it tightly under control. I willingly tolerate no more fire than is absolutely needed. The essential feature of all governments is coercion and control. That is, government has the power to force you to do things that you do not want to do.