[sowbug]

I wonder whether people associate money with government simply because that's what most money labeling says.

If I were living in a world where money had just been invented, I suppose I'd care mainly that whoever was issuing it was trustworthy enough not to issue extra on the side.* Otherwise I wouldn't really care where it came from.

I'm not sure if I'm agreeing with you, disagreeing, or just continuing the discussion.

*Eventually I'd come to understand that inflation is not necessarily a bad thing, but my first instinct would be that I'd value money only if it were scarce.