What has any elected person ever done that has had a(n):

[henry quirk]

Well, there are all the usual suspects: roads, fire and police, industrial standards, working condition regs, the military, and on and on.

Some folks say the above are all 'good' and 'direct' benefits of government involvement.

Some folks say the above are the result of private providers who are paid by the governors (on behalf of the taxpayers), so, the benefits of the above really are the result of individuals (and groups of individuals) with government as the mere conductor of funds and coordinator of service.

Where one stands, I think, depends entirely on individual disposition and experience.