From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article ,   
   Jon Leech  wrote:   
   >>This UK escrow and trade finance company has put a proposal before   
   >>British Prime Minister Tony Blair that a wholly private venture could be   
   >>established for worldwide benefit and at no cost to the taxpayer.   
   >   
   >    Shouldn't they be putting it before a VC firm, not a politician?   
      
   In an area which has historically been a government monopoly, they   
   presumably think that having the formal blessing of the government --   
   which, among other things, helps ensure that there will be no government   
   *opposition* -- would help them find private funding.   
      
   They're right, too.  The first thing a sensible VC would want to know is   
   the government's views on the idea, and specifically whether the government   
   has any interest in stopping it or competing with it.  VCs want to know all   
   about the risks of proposals, and "political risk" is the worst kind.   
      
   >   "full approval and support from the UK government as leader in what   
   >    could be a dramatic programme of scientific and industrial endeavour   
   >    likely to attract thousands of millions of pounds in investment and   
   >    create thousands of jobs."   
   >   
   >    How can their proposal be simultaneously "wholly private" and   
   >approved, supported, and led by the UK government? I'm confused.   
      
   It's the proposal, not the government, which would be doing the leading.   
   As for "approval and support", that doesn't necessarily mean money.   
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