>>He was correct in his characterization of the type of people who work for the government.

That's substantially because we've allowed institutions to degenerate from noble callings into fight pits where the dirtiest trickster is likely to win. You only need to consider the meaning of the term "officer of the court" to appreciate the corruption and dirty tricksterism that has been allowed to take over institutions maintained by and for the benefit of the citizenry, but now mostly for the benefit of the players. As for other business: repeatedly it's been shown that publicly owned entities can be run as businesses that compete very effectively with private business- unless the playing field is denied maintenance while competitors receive tax rebates to build their own brand new stadium.

For example, the USPS is thoroughly hamstrung by antique obligations to service unprofitable routes, as well as stereotyped cardigan-wearing entrenched administrators who are on record saying that this interweb thingy is a fad and who have pension expectations dating from a time when sending a package meant USPS and an interstate phone call cost more than a stamp. You can't overturn the rot of decades, but you can re-establish such an entity as a separate business (called a crown entity elsewhere) with new management that can revamp things, sell useless parts, sideline wastrels, incentivize and rebuild pride by workers and generally get things sorted out. Of course in the US that would involve cooperation from lawmakers who seek election funding from Fedex or UPS shareholders who promise a new hub in the representative's home state in exchange for business as usual and the standard tax rebate.