> Well NASA put a man on the Moon and America's economy boomed at the same time.

Yes but you've missed the point. Those billions have turned out to be a net positive for the world. But at the time, why should someone dying of cancer fund a literal moonshot? Why should we antagonize the nuclear armed Soviets over a dead rock? Why this, why that?

> Also, your tax dollars are absolutely being handed over to private organisations in one way or another.

Then it incurs the same penalties! The opportunity cost argument still applies. "Why did we fund this business over that business?"

The majority of private businesses have no exclusive government support. They are free to fail with zero impact to society. This means their apps are crappier but no one had to suffer to make it happen.