Trusting government is a good thing?

Towards the end of this article, one of the ubiquitous authority figures on bird flu says that the United States is fortunate because

the public does believe what the government says.

I don't think that's a good thing, and it's certainly not always been the case. I recall from my waste-of-time Texas History class in seventh grade that one of the more successful groups of filibusters (individuals who tried to lead revolts), which actually managed to set up a semblance of a government in San Antonio, had troubles because the Americans, who distrusted government and thus wanted most posts to be elected, couldn't agree with the Mexicans, who were used to a more top-down government, on how the government should be run.