[qwanzi77]

So you should only give $500M loans to rich, well-connected, billionaires, right?

Wow.

There were quite several car manufacturers similar to Tesla's size before their large taxpayer-subsidized loan who didn't get those loans.

I guess you must be a well-connected billionaire to qualify. I guess that counts as "fair" nowadays.

[danesparza]

Remember the word 'loan' designates a debt instrument. It needs to be paid back. If you don't have the capital to secure the loan (and pay it back), no -- you shouldn't get the money.

[bob13579]

Fisker and Solyndra and several others couldn't pay back their loans. The government didn't arrest any of them and didn't take any of their personal assets. The debt was simply discharged.