So exactly like private employees & companies?
I'm not sure we should be expecting humans not to game systems to their own benefit. Isn't that basic human nature?
When someone plays games with the Federal Government it hurts me directly. Doubly so because public organizations are notoriously unable for a raft of reasons to deal with abuse like that.
If the argument is that it's no less likely to happen I wouldn't disagree. If it's that I shouldn't be any more annoyed - I don't think so.
Why not design a system that isn’t susceptible to gaming and doesn’t rely on all people acting with integrity and instead embraces that people will act in their own best interest even if it results in long term worse outcomes overall?
Things like universal health care and universal basic income provide a flat benefit to all, so gaming the system doesn’t give an unfair advantage to some.