Running public services "at a loss" (= tax funded) is the entire premise of a government. Some as wealth redistribution schemes, but most of them because societ

Running public services "at a loss" (= tax funded) is the entire premise of a government. Some as wealth redistribution schemes, but most of them because society as a whole is better off if we do so. If we only put out fires if the property owner has paid their fire fighting fees the fire might uncontrollably spread to other properties, so we are better off just having a public fire fighting service. Every trucking company paying for their own armed escorts is much more expensive than taxes financing a police force that ensures safe travel. Transportation infrastructure, no matter if that's streets, subways or airports, promotes trade and efficient resource use by allowing people and resources to get to places more easily.