Those are largely fiefdoms of competence and positive-sum value creation. The fortune 1000 are generally both accountable to shareholders, customers and vulnera

Those are largely fiefdoms of competence and positive-sum value creation. The fortune 1000 are generally both accountable to shareholders, customers and vulnerable to attack by competition if they get too incompetent. The left-populists of HN will of course argue that all private business is a scam (using edge case anecdotes), but that's juvenile so I won't even waste time confronting that. The US federal government on the other hand, is largely unaccountable to anyone, even its voters, and has zero competitive pressures. They are undeniably the largest, and least accountable fiefdom of all. Hence why Fairfax, Loudoun, Montgomery, etc counties (suburbs of DC) together have nearly 70,000 housholds with an income over $500K+ per year. Edging out the entire Bay Area while having less people.