> This is frequently stated as fact, but no evidence is provided. Indeed. Last I heard on the subject, government does a great many things people don't think

> This is frequently stated as fact, but no evidence is provided. Indeed. Last I heard on the subject, government does a great many things people don't think of at first, for example facilitating R&D that wouldn't otherwise occur, and large scale administration and maintenance of infrastructure, and much of its activity is ludicrously efficient as a multiplier for the economy compared with how people think of it, and cost effective or at least competitive with the private sector on many things that it does.