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***Especially if you don't mind them leaving out the part of Tesla making millions of dollars with George Westinghouse, because that would ruin their angle of slamming president Bush and capitalism in general.*** I'm sorry, what?"

Uh, did you actually READ the article?

Please go back and look at the final paragraphs of the actual article. THEN come back and tell me the other poster brought Bush into the discussion.

Word to the wise: Reading the article first will save you from embarassment in the future.

***Even more terrifying, scientists and inventors who cannot operate laboratories without government funding find themselves bound to a near medieval morality. President Bush, in an August 2001 speech delivered at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, stated, "I'm a strong supporter of science and technology, and believe they have the potential for incredible good—to improve lives, to save life, to conquer disease." But he then followed up that statement by saying, "I also believe human life is a sacred gift from our Creator," and, "I have made this decision [to curb the types of embryos that can be used in stem-cell research] with great care. I pray it is the right one." In such a climate, what will happen to the independent scientist? Somewhere they are toiling in suburban basements, on city rooftops with well-thumbed copies of Popular Mechanics piled by their sides, but with evolution being labeled "just a theory" in some textbooks, try building a submersible airplane in your garage or grafting your own DNA with the great blue heron's today. Try building a ring around the equator or drafting plans for population control that read like poetry. Chances are your neighbors will turn you over to the Department of Homeland Security. And so after praying for a winning lottery ticket, independent scientists should start to pray for a government that doesn't use prayer to draft scientific policy. ***

I'm sorry, what?

Concerning Tesla, Westinghouse and "millions" of dollars..

Yes, Tesla made a lot of money, initially, with his patents for AC motors, generators, etc..

What is not often noted is that Westinghouse eventually complained to Tesla that royalty payments were going to "ruin" the business..
Tesla magnanimously (stupidly) surrendered his rights to royalty payments.. just signed them over to Westinghouse.. as well as $MILLIONS$ that was already owed him..
Possibly the biggest rip-off in history..

That is why, in later years, Tesla had to go begging to J.P. Morgan for funding..
The loss of royalties from Westinghouse, and Tesla's own spendthrift habits.. when he had money, he spent it.. lavishly.. on himself, on his experiments and on his freinds.. with no thought or concern for tomorrow..

J.P. Morgan financed Tesla because he thought Tesla would make him Rich(er)...
Morgan cut funding as soon as he found out Tesla's intention was to produce "free" energy for the world..
No profit, no funding..