Taxing Sci-Fi Products to Fund NASA?

LordNimon writes "According to an article in the Huntsville (AL) Times, Michael Williams, a Republican candidate for Congress, is proposing a 1% tax on any science fiction- or space-related products (e.g. books, toys, and games) and using that money to fund NASA. At first I thought this guy was crazy, considering the administrative nightmare of determining which products should be taxed. But then I realized something - this tax would make those who are most interested in space the primary source of space development funding. Instead of making everyone pay for NASA, those who care most about it also fund it the most. Maybe if the guy didn't work in a supermarket, he'd be taken more seriously."

Comments

Simple answer - ELIMINATE NASA

[NewIntellectual]

NASA is an immensely wasteful, bloated bureaucracy that's still riding on the glory days of Apollo. More than any other factor it is responsible for the LACK of private space development. Rather than stealing away more money from the people who earned it, how about just auctioning off NASA's facilities to private companies who actually want to make space accessible on a real commercial basis. Then perhaps those of us who don't have $20 million to spend on a ride will have a finite chance of getting into space before we die of old age.

Re:Wrong!

[Reziac]

But the average gov't program isn't funded as a special interest tax, with a logic of "just because you MIGHT be interested in the program."

By this proposal's logic.. hmm, let's find a really broad example: Let's tax nonwhites to fund "Equal Opportunity" programs.

Ooops, that'll really get 'em going :)

NASA research benefits us all

[Technomancer]

So we all should pay for it. If it werent for
NASA we wouldnt have stuff like satellite TV,
some materials, drugs, foods and technologies.

People who do not want to pay for NASA shouldnt
be allowed to board escape spaceships when giant
meteor will be heading for Earth.

Re:We spend more money helping people in Afganasta

[arcade]

Well, after bombing the shit out of afghanistan, just 'maybe' its allright to help them build up what you destroyed?

They're not exactly in a financian situation to do that themselves.