[randomsearch]

Agree except I had assumed the VCs were being opportunistic in unloading, rather than actually shaping policy. Do you have any evidence that they shaped it? Seems there were other significant reasons for stimulus programmes not just saving VCs.

[ithkuil]

This is a common mechanism that powers conspiracy theories: when you see an opportunist profiting from a situation, you may be tempted to conclude that they had to do shaping the situation in their favour, especially if these actors are a group of wealthy connected people. The police/justice system also uses "motive" as a strong requisite for bringing suspicion on a person; it's a quite engrained psychological mechanism (and often fits reality quite well, until it doesn't)