Or put another way, with inflation government can promise and raise funds for political programs that help win elections, that they would not be able to pass if they had to raise taxes (or cut other programs) to pay for.
True, but that's not necessarily a zero-sum decision. Use that money for subsidies or handouts, it's certainly wasted and hihgly inflationary. Use it to build a port or some similar infrastructure, and it generates significant real (rather than just nominal) economic activity.