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Should Taxpayers Back Cars Only the Rich Can Afford?
theodp writes "The NY Times questions the $400M in low-interest federal loans requested by Tesla Motors as part of the $25B loan package for the auto industry passed by Congress last year. 'The program is intended to encourage automakers to improve fuel efficiency, but should it be used for a purpose like this, as the 2008 Bailout of Very, Very High-Net-Worth Individuals Who Invested in Tesla Motors Act?' Tesla says it is assembling about 15 cars a week and has delivered about 80 of its $109,000 base-price Roadsters to date, many of which have gone to the Valley's billionaires and centimillionaires who are Tesla investors as well as early customers. We discussed the company's financial difficulties last month."
Wow, someone doesn't understand a bit about business. Tesla Motors is trying to make a car for under $25K, but they started with the most expensive car because people who buys those cars are underwriting their research and development. So, please, feel free to demand they make cars at whatever price you choose. I demand that the US taxpayer subsidize each car, on a cost + 20% plan. Do you really want a $100K car (with almost $30K of that going towards the battery system) being sold for $25K, with the rest of the cost being paid for by US taxpayers? Or would you rather the people buying the Roadsters (such as myself) offset the cost of the cheaper vehicles?
You probably don't want to drive a 100 miles-per-gallon "car". A 100 mpg motorcycle, maybe. It's just as safe, and you look less stupid.
I wouldn't say that investing tax payer money is unconstitutional in the least.
Try reading the document sometime.
It's done all the time.
So are many other unconstitutional activities.
-jcr
The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
Karl Marx that well-known mass murderer. Honestly, if you want to bash the Left, whoever they might be, you should at least get a clue.
No, he was not. And I didn't imply, that he was... I'm glad, though, you found no other things in my posting to object to. Thanks.
I strongly suspect, that my own life experience has already provided me with far more clues for Left-bashing, than you'll ever have...
In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
Wow! Somehow having 38 years of bad information somehow makes it .... I don't know WTF, *better* information??? My 44 years says you're still a clueless moron.