It makes some sense that it would be that way. If a private company's web site doesn't work at all, then they don't get your money. There are incentives for the

It makes some sense that it would be that way. If a private company's web site doesn't work at all, then they don't get your money. There are incentives for them to get basic functionality right, and if they still screw it up they can be replaced by a competitor. If a government web site is completely broken, what can you do about it? Yell angrily at a passing cloud? (In theory you could vote for a legislator who wants to make that web site a priority -- but nobody runs on that. Why would they? It would put most voters to sleep.)