With the government, there is a relatively unaccountable representative standing between the funding organization (the taxpayers) and the projects to be funded.

If entrepreneurs::VCs was like government::taxpayers, then entrepreneurs would throw VCs in jail whenever the VCs decided to withhold funding for a failing project.

>> if you spend/manage the money wisely, there is a great potential windfall for you in the future.

> I don't see that being any different than government.

Oh really? What is the "windfall"? (It's not supposed to be money in govt.)

And, if it's the same, why is the typical govt service so bad?

I don't know about you. But I'm 100% satisfied with the US/State govt services I've interacted with (IRS, USCIS, DMV, Social Security, USPS, BART).

My most horrifying experiences were with the private sector (1) to clear up identity theft that happened to me, (2) admitted inaccurate billing by a dentist.

You're the first person I've run into who is 100% satisfied with the DMV. Which office do you use?

What is your interaction with the IRS and SS? (I haven't run into any problems giving them money, but that's all that I've done with them so I don't have useful data.)

I receive USPS mail for a different address at least twice a week. I haven't been burned yet by my mail being misdelivered, but odds are that I won't stay a lucky unicorn forever.