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ace: i honestly don't give a flip if you mispelled Tesla as Tulsa...I did want to make sure we were referencing the same company. From the details you provided I assumed that we were, but I thought I'd make sure. No need to get in a huff about it.

The point is - I hope Tesla is successful. There are technological hurdles in their way to making an electric vehicle that will be broadly commercially viable, they are aware of them and they are working on it. I really hope they come out strong, or else get bought out by a larger manufacturer (such as Daimler/Mercedes), if they/we can innovate a strong enough battery technology, or prices for petroleum-based energy storage elevate to a point where the break-even point is met.

I honestly am a little leery of the GM bailout myself, but I do know that they are one of the largest American companies going. Quick google search provided: linky with the largest american companies listed as:

I believe that Tesla employs less than 1000. Therefore, my point was that making an apples to apples comparison of the two isn't really viable (which you might agree with, but it did seem you were trying to do so), and Tesla is actually partnering with larger vehicle manufacturers such as Mercedes/Daimler and Toyota.

The main point however, is that Tesla wasn't started because Elon was not taxed an extra 3% on his personal income. It was started because he sees a potential market in the next 20+ years, and is willing to eat costs up front to gain early adopter market share. Our tax structure is not what is keeping Tesla in the United States - they are staying because of the potential market for early adopter customers (California, where their plant is) and the U.K. Incidentally, they are also looking for financing from other "bailout" beneficiaries like Goldman-Sachs.

The government isn't just looking to "pick winners, truth-be-damned, it's all Obama's secret Union-loving administration...". Union lobbying no-doubt has its influence, as all major companies have influence via bribery under the guise of first amendment freedom of speech. I believe the mantra of bailing out GM was that a massive failing by a company such as GM, along with the subsequent failure of all the OEMs who supplied GM, would have caused catastrophic collapse throughout our economy.

Incidentally, I'm fairly certain that Tesla has received government incentives, and that they have interaction with the United States Department of Energy via our Vehicles Technologies office. They're not exactly out-of-the-loop.

edit thanks - maybe this will work

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