When you scan for uncorrupt institutions, how the hell do you end up on "governments the world over"?
If you lean Democrat, then governments are virtuous and private firms corrupt because the free market doesn't solve all the problems, and for those you need regulation (government: coercive force). In fact, the regulated free market leads huge wealth disparities, which leads to social problems, and since private firms that are seeking to maximize their wealth disparity, obviously they must be corrupt.
Naturally, neither of these pictures is right, or rather, they are both partly right.
The US military which hands crazy money to private firms is viewed very highly by the Republican’s and less so by Democrats.
Power corrupts when private firms extend excessive influence over government.
The most consistent principle is to oppose concentration of power in all its forms.
government makes money by threatening you with violence (pay tax or go to jail) and its subjects are so rarely by choice, and if by choice, it's between one government and another.
That's why people suggest to let the government run the nuclear power plants. Unlike a for-profit corporation, governmental organizations have little incentive to save money for maintenance by cutting corners.
I can stop visiting BP branded gas stations but that has nothing to do with where the oil/gasoline actually comes from.
Not to say government isn't necessary - it is. But I don't understand why people treat it as virtuous, especially when those same people will express distrust in politicians. I suppose it's because government is the only way to legitimately force one's will on others.
The corruption of governments and labor unions often results in unexpected financial and non-financial returns for various people in ways that are more difficult to detect and measure.
No, at most you'll get a letter in a mail and a lien if you aren't actively trying to evade taxes. No reason to engage in hyperbole.