Taking account of reality doesn't mean being paranoid and afraid. Government, med/pharma complex, education, military, big business, law enforcement, religion are made up of people. People with the capacity to have all the inherent flaws, greed, arrogance, stupidity, malevolence, laziness etc. That doesn't even account for the psychopaths/narcissists, that we know make up 5% of the population who are attracted to positions of power over people.

Life experience should teach not to trust even if one is historically ignorant. I can understand being young and trusting because I was. Later I learned not to be that way.