Did you say “yes!” when you read this? I must admit I did. But then I thought maybe that was a simplistic response to a complex issue.

There are politicians I wouldn’t trust as far as I can throw them – and I’m a natural weakling. But there is so much more to government than just the politicians. Most of the time we don’t think about even a fraction of what it does. And most conspiracy theorists, if they are honest, trust government most of the time.

It is government that ensures safe water to drink and a steady supply of electricity. It is government that institutes rules to prevent chaos on our roads, and in our societies. It is government that ensures we have a health care system that functions reasonably well. In most countries anyway – the U.S. is an outlier.

Do governments at times do things i don’t like? Yes. Are some things government does just plain stupid? Occasionally. Are they conspiring against the people? I doubt it.

Those who mistrust government will work on the assumption that I am either naive or I am part of some Deep State conspiracy. It is a free society – I defend their right to believe that.

I have seen government in action though. Too often what seems like a conspiracy against the citizens has a simpler explanation: incompetence. Most politicians are well meaning. I know – I’ve talked with hundreds of them, from all sides of the political spectrum.

But the skill set required to get elected is not the same as what you need to govern effectively. I don’t think most politicians have both. Watching the struggles of western democracies in recent years has me wondering if there might be a better way to run a country.

Actually there is. Politicians could just state policy objectives, and the civil service could just implement those policies – telling the politicians when the policy proposals just won’t work. I don’t think that happens anymore. Or maybe the politicians consistently ignore what they are told.

These days i frequently wonder if government has my best interests at heart. I’ve become convinced though that those in charge aren’t smart enough to conspire against me. They just have no clue what they are doing.

Is it the same where you are?