[gottorf]

> But governments are basically the only party that can act in the best interest of citizens rather than shareholders

The best interest of shareholders can at least be defined, because it's narrow in scope. What is in the best interests of citizens, especially in diverse countries where there is not a lot of things with overwhelmingly broad agreement?

> people tend to miss all the successful things governments fund, like science research

People also tend to miss opportunity cost in government funding (where else could that money have gone, with greater positive outcomes?) as well as alternative sources of funding (could research have been funded privately, especially with lesser tax burden?).