A slightly smaller share says that state governments shouldn't be in the business of providing some of the services that they do. Anyone associated with local government knows what a hotseat it can be. In Mill Valley, California, population 14,000, budget-cutting city council members drew the public's wrath about a year ago when they stopped Sunday trash collection in the picturesque downtown. Garbage cans filled up. So did council members' answering machines.
People know who to come to.
They see you at Mill Valley Market and tell you what's on their mind. The panel restored the Sunday pickup, using a cheaper contractual service rather than city employees. Speaking of employees, it's no wonder we trust locals more than feds. Mill Valley, for example, has a staff of about 100. In contrast, she says, federal service tends to reward its leaders based on the number of people beneath them and the amount of money those subordinates earn.