>Um, in Alabama, not exactly a "big densely populated area," the speaker of the house was just convicted, the governor is under investigation as is the chief justice of the Supreme Court (though that's for abuse of power, not corruption).
>
>OK - so there is plenty of corruption in smaller municipalities. Does that in some way imply that there is less corruption at the federal level?

No, but the myth that local government is more honest and efficient is just that, a myth.

Regarding corruption:

Dick Cheney went to Washington as a poor legislative aide married to a teacher who paid the rent.
After serving as Secretary of Defense under GHW Bush, Cheney became CEO of Halliburton, which generated tens of billions in profits during the Iraq war.

Cheney's current net worth is estimated at $90 million.

Is there corruption at the federal level?
Big time.