VC and PE are distinct. You can't just interchange the terms.

VCs invest with the hope the investee will grow quickly. PE firms do not have that hope. This distinction has a large effect on the strategies available to the investor. A PE firm for example will usually be averse to investing if they will not end up with managerial control over the investee, but a VC fund routinely makes such investments.

Right, and that's exactly the problem we run into that causes comment sections to go endlessly in circles.

If and when I ever write my Highly Opinionated Guide To Comment Section Ettiquette, my #1 rule would be about Dennett's Principle of Charity, but #2 would probably relate to the thing you've identified here. Namely, to the extent possible, try not to resort one-off examples to represent systematic processes.

I'm pretty Libertarian myself... the issue, to me, comes from treating companies/corporations as "people" in terms of political speech, etc. I don't think collective groups should be able to donate to political campaigns or non-profits unless they have open books and only take contributions from individuals or orgs that likewise have open books.

I also think that politicians should have to pre-declare by a day or more any financial trades.

Corporations are allowed to exist in a state beyond what an individual can, and as a balance should be very limited in execution and through the past century in particular are anything but. Their power is a grant of govt, and should also be limited. In the end, that's where I stand on it. I'm all for maximizing personal liberty, and even small business allowances. Major companies should be focused on stability with growth or divestment. Foreign owned companies should be more limited even. That just isn't the case today, and it's a shame.