Last year Mr Gore’s venture capital firm loaned a small California firm $75m to develop energy-saving technology. The company, Silver Spring Networks, produces hardware and software to make the electricity grid more efficient.
The deal appeared to pay off in a big way last week, when the Energy Department announced $3.4 billion in smart grid grants, the New York Times reports. Of the total, more than $560 million went to utilities with which Silver Spring has contracts.
The move means that venture capital company Kleiner Perkins and its partners, including Mr Gore, could recoup their investment many times over in coming years.
Critics, mostly on the political right and among global warming sceptics, say Mr. Gore is poised to become the world’s first “carbon billionaire,” profiteering from government policies he supports that would direct billions of dollars to the business ventures he has invested in.
#64, Then explain to me why is the most regulated market in these United States, Health Care, is in the shitter?
The world is bigger than the USA, and nearly everywhere, governments are spending money and making legislation to oblige the citizenry to equip new constructions. If you think Al Gore is responsible for something happening all over the world you’re probably stupid as well as deluded. The demand for high tech solutions is there and in the good ol’ USA some people are smart and making money. While others are busy complaining how unfair it is. American investors are no longer willing to invest in something as risky as the high tech industry – why should they after decades of easy pickings and a government that’s still controlled by lobbyists and special interest groups. As I’m living in Europe this is good news to me. Hopefully the Americans will continue to doubt and argue like whiny little cowards. Meanwhile another potential industry escapes their grasp and the only thing they can think to do is find a political explanation so they have someone to blame.
#67 Our current system of health care evolved over time and has morphed into something unworkable. For-profit health care is not used anywhere else in the world and it doesn’t work here. There are simply some things that demand economies of scale that only governments can provide, and you libertarians simply can’t accept that. And that’s what makes you irrelevant.
#69, For-profit health care is not used anywhere else in the world and it doesn’t work here.
It was working great before the government started regulating it. Do you realize we now have a higher percentage of people NOT covered than we did before government intervened?
Government got involved and broke something that was working. They only solution you see is to increase the regulation? Is it just possible this “morphing” you are talking about is due to the heavy-handed regulations?
You’ve heard the joke — “A man goes to the doctor and complains about it hurting whenever he sticks his finger in his eye. The doctor tells him to stop putting his finger in his eye.” What you are suggesting is the doctor put his finger in the patient’s eye, too.
“The real destroyer of the liberties of the people is he who spreads among them bounties, donations and benefits.” –Greek historian Plutarch (c. 46-120 A.D.)
#70 Sigh… I’m not bored enough to talk to you any more today LL.
#71 Little pedro, I’ll give you some friendly advice. Liberals like me are on the record criticizing Obama and the Democrats for all kinds of things, including playing footsie with Goldman Sachs, keeping Bush’s police state apparatus, the stupid bipartisanship attempts with hostile Republicans, et cetera, et cetera. When wingnut nutballs like yourself accuse us of slavish devotion to Obama, it just makes you look like, well, a wingnut nutball. Think about it, little pedro. 🙂
#73, You don’t have an answer and never will until you open your eyes.
So, played bored all you want. Looks like a runaway to me.
#74 Whatever works for you, LL. Have a nice day. 🙂
So… any other wingnuts want to bash Gore’s successful foray into venture capitalism, or are we done here?
#76, Gore is not a venture capitalist. He is a looting opportunist.
When you know a company has no choice but to be successful due to government intervention, you are not taking a risk. You are mooching.
Phydeau – the world is black/white. The entire reason the human race exists is for Americans to have big homes, big SUVs, drive a lot and live large. Anything that doesn’t contribute to that is irrelevant or, at best, peripheral.
Even something like improving the grid, is only worth doing if it can be done without increasing cost to the end users.
Warren Buffett is betting billions on coal.
#78 TA, you’re funny.
#80 OK, I get it now pedro. What you’re doing is performance art. Portraying the clueless wingnut in all his glory. Pretty funny! 🙂