Sorry to break it to you, but no where America has the same corruption just WITHOUT Mardi Gras and the Saints. At least their you have a target for your disdain. Everywhere else they go along like they ENJOY being used by politicians.
Does their trash get picked up every week? Does their water authority routinely and deliberately produce fraudulently escalated bills? Can you call the cops after a traffic accident and enjoy reasonable expectations that they will show up?
No, other areas are not the same. We are a special kind of dysfunction at the moment.