The government needs employees who are selfless and would readily set their bosses chair on fire if it meant doing the right thing by the American people.
Might it not be better if these people worked in the private sector, where their efforts could have more effect?
Sure, but, someone has to work for the government. When the government contractors come calling whom would you rather have sitting on the other side of the table. Some fool who's only goal is to get through the day with the least amount of hassle or someone who isn't afraid to evaluate an idea on it's merits and call BS if that's what it is.
That isn't to say that that person wouldn't be making some sort of personal sacrifice in terms of either salary or work environment. I mean, doesn't it worry anyone else that if all the countries best and brightest minds are out there building the next Twitter we might have the B team working on things that have a far greater chance of effecting us all in the long term?
Might it not be better if these people worked in the private sector, where their efforts could have more effect?