re: When do you trust the government and why?

I trust nothing they say. I only rely on the government when i\the government gives me no other alternatives. I make sure to get every important statement from the government in writing with a name attached for accountability. That way when they say "we never told you that", I can say "yes you did, on this date, at this time, from this person, and here's my acquiesced request for information confirming this to be correct"

You have to treat the government like a pathological lire and pit different wings of the government against one another. The number one thing a government bureaucrat cares about is not looking bad to his boss and/or looking good so he can steal his/her boss's job. If any modicum of effort is required of them, they won't do it without that carrot. If no effort is required, they might do it if they're in a good mood.