I think the problem here is that "profit motive" is reduced to capitalism. For politicians profit is votes so under funding hospitals and prisons to spend in high profile pork projects (can even be tax cuts) is still profit motive. It's a rational choice if they think they can get more votes, more bang for their buck, by spending it elsewhere. This isn't traditionally seen as "profit motive", but really it is because it was done for the private benefit instead of over arching ethical deliberations or calculations for net good etc.