I don't think this is unique to HNers talking about government, the reverse is also true, with many government officials assuming that most businesses are awash

I don't think this is unique to HNers talking about government, the reverse is also true, with many government officials assuming that most businesses are awash in cash that they can use to solve any problem (true of many businesses to be sure, but in the same way that government officials are scoring own goals, sometimes, not universally).