Tax Scifi to fund NASA?

[Nemesis77]

Credit: /.



<< Michael Williams, a Republican candidate for the 5th Congressional District seat, has a novel plan to fully fund NASA: Tax science fiction.

Williams proposes a 1 percent "NASA tax" on science fiction books, science fiction comic books, space sciences books and any other space-related literature.

The tax would also apply to "space, space-related, and science fiction toys, puzzles and games," Williams said in a listing of his platform. >>



Source

Opinions? I guess the fact is that scifi-fans are the biggest supporters of space-eploration. This way they could help fund NASA's activities. And I don't think 1% is unreasonable. But anyway, begin discussion!

 

[Orsorum]

Cool... I'd pay it.

 

[Kadarin]

I read that, and the problem I see is that only those who purchase scifi products/services will pay for NASA, but everyone benefits. If there was some way to make sure that only those who put into the system benefit from it (and those fools in Congress who approve tobacco subsidies at the expense of science do not), then it may work..

 

[exp]

Building off of what Astaroth said: When the time comes that we have to evacuate Earth (due to incoming meteor, depleted resources, rampaging aliens, etc.) all those scifi fans who faithfully funded NASA will be the first people to be whisked away to safety. Right? Riiight???

What I want to know is: How much of a difference will a 1% sci-fi tax really make, given how expensive space exploration is? My initial reaction is that this would hardly make a dent in future expenses.

 

[n0cmonkey]

<< Building off of what Astaroth said: When the time comes that we have to evacuate Earth (due to incoming meteor, depleted resources, rampaging aliens, etc.) all those scifi fans who faithfully funded NASA will be the first people to be whisked away to safety. Right? Riiight???

What I want to know is: How much of a difference will a 1% sci-fi tax really make, given how expensive space exploration is? My initial reaction is that this would hardly make a dent in future expenses. >>



I think there is enough sci-fi stuff sold to waste a bunch of money shooting people into space to do the same thing the last people that went into space did.

This is rediculous. Why should sci-fi fans be responsible for NASA? Why single us out? It would be like taxing computer part sales to fund copy protection schemes. Only a little less useless.

 

[Nefrodite]

great, maybe he'll grow a brain and tax ricers, suv owners, and hotrodding rednecks to fund research into energy efficient vehicles too.


f*cking tax and spend big government republikans.

 

[Queasy]

Ridiculous idea. Notice how politicians always come up with "fabulous" ideas to raise money, ie TAX, but never come up with any ideas to improve efficiencies in government...no calls to cut useless government programs.

Tell you what, I will consider a "Sci-Fi Tax" the moment that we stop hearing stories about tax-payer money used to help fund gay community centers and to help research into the mating habits of South African squirrels. Those are but two examples of the wastes of tax-payer money.

 

[NuclearFusi0n]

I find it to be a slippery slope...What if they want to censor political speech? Place a 39420735342523190485% tax on it, and it's effectively silenced. Slippery slope, folks, slippery slope...

 

[XZeroII]

How can it be legal to tax just one certain type of good? What is scifi, specifically? Just about anything could be labeled scifi if you put your mind to it. I think this will lead to bad things. Why should scifi enthusiasts have to pay for this stuff, while everyone else just reaps the benefits?

 

[Amused]

What a stupid idea. :disgust:

Here's a better one: Allow people to earmark what their taxes will go towards.

 

[jpsj82]

what? that sounds so stupid. this will never pass.

 

[308nato]

An even better idea would be a little less funding to oh, say, studying the mating habits of the reticulated Burmese jumping tree snipe and spend a little on NASA.

Waste reduction is the key. Not more taxes.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

<< An even better idea would be a little less funding to oh, say, studying the mating habits of the reticulated Burmese jumping tree snipe and spend a little on NASA. Waste reduction is the key. Not more taxes. >>




Dont worry, funding for research is at an all time low. Eventually anything that the lowest common denominator citizen type cannot understand will be axed, and we will truly get what we deserve.

 

[Jzero]

Oh, I get it!
This is one of those bills that reads as follows:
1% Tax on all Sci-Fi goods. Money will go to support NASA.
99% of the money will go to NASA (New Alabama Savings Account) which is, oddly enough, held in the Cayman Islands by a guy named Michael Williams.
The other 1% is actually earmarked to go to the real NASA but ends up being misappropriated and given to support Bruce Willis films.

There's a name for this....Pig butt? Sh!t can? Oh yeh....pork barrel

It's a great idea if we could count on these ninnies to make it work the way it should.

 

[308nato]

<< ...... and we will truly get what we deserve. >>




That statement scares the hell out of me!