> Unless you mean that governments don't relinquish power unless they're designed to, but that's a big difference.

No I mean once they've taken it or the people give them that power, they don't relinquish it.

Consider the extensions to the Patriot Act.

"The provisions -- passed after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack -- deal with roving wiretaps, the tracking of alleged "lone wolf" terrorists, and the ability of law enforcement officials to obtain records they deem relevant to an investigation after securing an order from a federal court."

http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/05/27/congress.patriot.act/

> Nor is it true that governments can't due anything well by virtue of being governments.

Governments can't do anything well because they are bureaucratic nightmares.