It's also just a complete misunderstanding in how a governments vehicle for investment works compared to a person's.

A person invests in a stock, hopes it goes up, and makes a profit (or loss) when they sell. That money isn't real until a sale occurs.

A government gives a grant and gets a return tomorrow and every single day of the company's existence as well as every single day each employee exists (even if the company doesn't). If a company exists, it pays corporate taxes. If that company has employees (as every company does), it pays payroll taxes. If that company has employees, they pay income taxes and various forms of consumption taxes.

IDK why we act like a grant is akin to lighting money on fire. Governments don't give out grants for nothing. They're still benefiting from it. Sure, the vehicles for return are different from a standard investment but also a government isn't a person. Well I should take that last part back. A government is a person in an autocracy (monarchy/dictatorship/theocracy/etc), but that shouldn't even be on the table.

> that shouldn't even be on the table

I wish that were so.