[EricH]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

I'm well aware that FIRST does a fantastic job of recruiting corporations to our cause. I'm just interested as to why FIRST went after the government, especially given these sentiments.

I think it's a case of apples and oranges. Allow me to explain:

When the universities went to Capitol Hill, they wanted money for perspiration--the work to develop X, Y, and Z. When FIRST goes to the same place, we want money to help us with inspiration--the genius behind tomorrow's X, Y, and Z.

Or, to put it another way, the universities went to ask for money to develop a product (and presumably buy it in some way). FIRST is bringing a product that we'd like the government to buy.

I think this is a good question to ask, and I'm well aware that my answer probably isn't the correct one.