Well, I never said that it was not, although I think the mix is somewhat different between private and public. Speculation and failed products might be reduced

Well, I never said that it was not, although I think the mix is somewhat different between private and public. Speculation and failed products might be reduced with public funding, but procurement costs might be increased, for example. Anyway, I was making the point that while the costs of those things might exist for both sectors—in the private sector they are split between multiple parties but they are invisible and unaccountable—in the end they are still borne by the consumer. On top of all that, you have lost opportunity costs ie.in a private funded system we end up paying for things we don't even need, rather than paying too much for something we do. I just see this issue of public sector waste raised, and it seems to me more a shibboleth than an accurate portrayal of the situation. Which is not to say there are not very real issues around corruption and poor procurement with government. But these exist in the private sector also, we just call it business.