91–100 of 136 posts
He's a great salesman. You don't even realize you're being sold.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Are u serious??? have you forgotten how the government bailed out all the major car manufacturers? here is the link to remind http://useconomy.about.com/od/criticalssues/a/auto_bailout.h... tesla got only 500mln while others got BILLIONS
It's okay to give them half a billion dollars in loans because others got billions? Why not be outraged at everyone involved? The industry is colossally inefficient.
Start at minute 49 to see the full context - it's about fighting the automotive dealers association for the right to sell directly to consumers.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
So the government is now a venture capitalist or investment bank and should be encouraged to pick winners and losers now? It's quite funny that these Tesla Roadsters are being bought by rich Americans, and being subsidized by average Americans, and yet there seems to be no outrage from those purportedly upset about inequality. The average American isn't benefiting by enriching billionaires and millionaires with their…
>So the government is now a venture capitalist or investment bank and should be encouraged to pick winners and losers now? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_Theory_of_Employmen... We've come a long way since the 1930s, haven't we? Yes, the government can do these things, and -gasp- it works , on a small scale, under certain conditions (economic depression). The "$500m subsidy" to Tesla costs taxpayers zero aft…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Tesla qualified. Their application was reviewed by a board of People Who Know Things. I know this because my aunt, a respected physicist, sat on such a board. They're not throwing shit at the wall to see if it sticks; they know what they're doing, and they're not picking winners and losers, they're playing the same game every investor plays: trying to decide who is going to win or lose before it happens. Tesla got th…
"they know what they're doing, and they're not picking winners and losers, they're playing the same game every investor plays: trying to decide who is going to win or lose before it happens." The government should be in the venture capitalist business funding companies based on the recommendations of the board of People Who Know Things, now? "As for dealerships, the reason Tesla doesn't have to go through them is bec…
I don't believe you. Show me some evidence that they have to, and that they're not merely choosing to.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's okay to give them half a billion dollars in loans because others got billions? Why not be outraged at everyone involved? The industry is colossally inefficient.
I am not outraged at anyone, except previous commenter. But to your point, yes it is okay to give them half a billion. I don't see why government should not have supported them. And as time has shown it was a right decision, since they have paid off that loan, which I think is incredible for an only electric cars company.
I find it quite outrageous that we're enriching well-connected billionaires and millionaires, but what do I know?
"And as time has shown it was a right"
Not really. Taxpayers are still on the hook for $7,500 for each Tesla sold.
I had no idea there was actually a written law that prevented auto manufacturers to sell directly to consumers. What is this law supposed to achieve exactly?
Officially, to make sure customers have a dealership close by where they can have their cars properly serviced without delays or long trips. In practice, to protect dealers with fat margins and terrible commercial practices.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
No. And why should it matter? Tesla got the loan. Others didn't. How is that fair?
> How is that fair? Life's not fair. Better you get used to it and take every advantage you can get. It's not like it was free money anyway. It still was a loan and had to be paid back. You're acting like the US government would have gifted that money to Tesla.
Also, the government would have gifted them the money regardless of their ability to pay it back. Fisker couldn't pay back theirs, as did many other energy companies that went bankrupt. No one was arrested and no personal assets were taken.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
>So the government is now a venture capitalist or investment bank and should be encouraged to pick winners and losers now? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_General_Theory_of_Employmen... We've come a long way since the 1930s, haven't we? Yes, the government can do these things, and -gasp- it works , on a small scale, under certain conditions (economic depression). The "$500m subsidy" to Tesla costs taxpayers zero aft…
The federal tax credit of $7,500, plus any state subsidies, for each Tesla sold doesn't ring a bell to you?
But yes, now that you've successfully moved the goalpost, I might have to revise my estimate of seventy-five cents.
He gets like that sometimes, and you can see he really cares about the products he's making and the change he's trying to make in the world. So sometimes he seems deeply affected that others are so much against him, especially when they aren't playing fair. He became a bit emotional in another interview where he said that Neil Armstrong was opposed to the idea of having SpaceX making commercial rockets (or any other…
"he seems deeply affected that others are so much against him, especially when they aren't playing fair" How exactly is Tesla playing fair? Did all car manufacturers receive a $500 million loan to build electric cars or something?