> People always say this but it's simply not true.

There are also cases where it does not go well, e.g. flint. Those companies you list suck because they have monopolies which I think is a separate issue. Also, a local municipal organization has a ton less bureaucracy, there is not much incentive for corruption, and the result of corruption won't tank the economy. A national bank would be a whole different ball game. If a guy gives his friend's company free water, so what. if a guy who works at a national bank gives his friend's shitty company a sweetheart loan that he knows they won't be able to pay back, that will have a lot more dire consequences if repeated over and over.