First off - Tesla is profitable or approaching profitability as of this year, per my link earlier.  I figured maybe you didn't see that since you didn't address it.<p>Second, the money that they get from the government is a loan, just like the government, particularly the Dept of Energy, gives to thousands of companies who's research/products have a chance of generating extremely positive externalities for the country.  (Last I knew, the whole dependent on foreign oil thing is sort of a big deal)<p>So what are you against here?  What differentiates Tesla from the rest of those companies?  If a company had a promising approach towards cold fusion, would you be against a government loan to them as well?