“Why do you trust the government so much?”

I don’t. I just don’t trust private entities any more than the state. I don’t trust government, private corporations, churches, non-profits, sales/marketing/public relations/propaganda/advertisements, shibboleths/dog whistles/virtue signals, or anything else I can’t independently verify. I believe people generally believe what they say (although there are plenty of active liars too), but also everyone, myself included, is wrong. About what? I have no idea, but I don’t take anything on faith. I believe in well supported arguments, historical observations and that people will continue to do and be what they have historically done and been (barring a significant outside influence or incentive), that who people are on the inside is not always going to be reflected in their actions (we are creatures of habit that do not always live our values and will rationalize away any internal contradiction), and that the only thing that can’t be taken from you is your own integrity, it can only be given away, so do your best to be worthy of the misguided trust others put in you. You will fail sometimes, but that doesn’t mean the effort isn’t worth it.