I give my local and state government a solid 2/10 score.
I am a socialist where governments are efficient, liberatarian where governments are dysfunctional.
At first glance this position seems reasonable, but ultimately it's short sighted - the game is iterative. Penalizing the public coffer ultimately results in higher costs over the long run as high ROI investments are left on the planning table. The attitude itself is a large part of why the American government is paralyzed and cannot effectively address issues: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starve_the_beast
There should be more focus on why government is dysfunctional than about raising taxes. The situation is completely opposite today, extremely lopsided. Newspapers and journalism has stopped exposing government scandals and inefficiencies, but people are frothing over other things.
I want governments to work like Swiss agencies.
Even in this post you restate the ideological underpinnings of starve the beast.
If you want governments to work like efficient machines, you need to invest in them, which requires political will that will only exist after dispelling the narrative that they are incapable of solving problems.
Also, I'm confused about the comment about newspapers and journalism. Do you have a source for that claim? My everyday experience is almost the exact opposite.
You position is irrational and seems to be from a place of envy over other's wealth than actual societal benefit.
I want 2x better government services for the same amount of taxes. The fact that no one questions government efficiency, but everyone is eager to pay taxes is delusional.
If I lived in Zurich or Tokyo, yes, I am happy to pay taxes.
I really don't want to give a dime to Oakland local government and California in general; I will do everything in my power and exercise all legal avenues to pay as little tax as I can.