[maerF0x0]

> works fine in stores and restaurants. Why would the government be different?

I'll posit a hypothesis: Scale and morality interpretation differences.

I've yet to have a > $1000 restaurant bill (not even close), and the experience I got and the reciprocity instincts in me compel me to correct it if say they were to forget to charge me for my guac or give me more change than i was owed.

Whereas in the Gov't there is scale that tempts people to choose immoral paths, and also there's a morality of efff the government in a lot of people's minds. It's an abstracted entity of which we mostly do not enjoy the experience and cannot treat humanely (it's not a person).

[sowbug]

I get where you're coming from. But I don't know which is cause and which is effect.

Suppose your friendly neighborhood restaurant stopped giving you the check at the end of the meal, and instead had a stern sign on the table saying "Pay what you owe. Underpay and we call the cops."

Would you still feel that warm reciprocity?