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by maxerickson 4400 days ago
Why not call it a risky investment? He ended up with a big ownership stake, he wasn't just supporting them for the hell of it.
1 comments
ceejayoz 4400 days ago
The UK isn't supporting Skylon "for the hell of it", either. Their taxpayers would likely be pretty happy to have the next Boeing/Airbus live on their soil.
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maxerickson 4400 days ago
I guess it's just a pet peeve of mine when people call a private, profitable financial arrangement a subsidy.

I complain about the usage for cell phones too.

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ceejayoz 4400 days ago
Both situations involve someone with money taking a bet on a currently non-profitable venture hoping it'll pay off in the future. SpaceX wasn't profitable when Musk put money in.
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pjc50 4400 days ago
Note that one of the partners is QinetiQ, the privatized wing of the UK defence research establishment. There's a strategic interest here too.
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