I think the OP’s point is that it’s the same money being moved back and forth.
They could just as easily pay the Federal worker $15 instead of $20, and say he owes no income tax, and not bother to shuffle the money back and forth. IOW, there’s no real revenue there.
Whereas the private employee provides revenue, “new” money.
Which is true and easily reasoned. This guy needed to start a thread about this?