[OT] Sci-Fi Tax ?!

[Hand of Vecna]

Candidate Proposes SF Tax.

Short of it -- a Republican candidate for an Alabama congressional seat has proposed a plan to tax science fiction to fund NASA.

[Wolfspider]

Wow...that's a really interesting idea. Think of it...humanity would have science fiction to thank in part for the knowledge and discoveries that would come about through space exploration. It would no longer be seen as a geeky obsession but a real boon to all the world.

[Ranger REG]

A sci-fi tax to fund NASA and space exploration and research?

Hmm.

That's not really a bad idea. But how big is the tax, that I am concerned with.

And exactly what falls under science fiction, besides novels? Because for us who are sci-fi gamers are currently paying a bunch -- if not will be -- when the $40 revised Star Wars rulebook is released, Star Trek RPG Player's Guide & Narrator's Guide, and other sci-fi RPG.

Of course, it would be nice if George Lucas is willing to match the sale of the revised rulebook and the Episode II movie admissions in donation toward NASA funding. Come to think of it, how much has he donated toward that cause? Not one red cent?

[Zappo]

Hmm... a tax is compulsory. Sorry, but I don't think anyone should be forced to pay a tax to NASA in order to view the latest Star Wars. Actually, I find the idea ridiculous, since real space exploration isn't that closely tied to Star Trek. It seems like someone thinks that sci-fi geeks are the only ones who want space exploration and therefore should be forced to pay for it. That's a monstrous notion in my eyes: knowledge is a goal and treasure of humanity as a whole. Besides, the technological breaks from space research benefit everyone equally, so why should only a portion of the population pull out the money to fund it?

[Lothaire]

While on the surface this might seem wonderful, it is incedibly unfair.

Those who purchase these scifi related goods will be taxed at a higher rate then those who choose not to consume such goods.

However NASA's research and exploration provides a communal benefit.

Thus those who do not purchase Scifi related goods will reap the benefits of research that others subsidize.

Unfair I say.

[Wolfspider]

Besides, the technological breaks from space research benefit everyone equally, so why should only a portion of the population pull out the money to fund it?

Because otherwise there won't be any money to fund it at all?

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

Originally posted by Lothaire
While on the surface this might seem wonderful, it is incedibly unfair.

Those who purchase these scifi related goods will be taxed at a higher rate then those who choose not to consume such goods.

However NASA's research and exploration provides a communal benefit.

Thus those who do not purchase Scifi related goods will reap the benefits of research that others subsidize.

Unfair I say.

But taxing more productive people at a higher rate for a government that provides "communal benefit" is fair?

[Ashtal]

As rediculous as this is in the first place...can you imagine? The guy even listed toys.

TOYS.

So now that 10-year-old, out to buy Mace Windu, will, with his hard-earned paper route money, BE FUNDING NASA.

Unbelievable...

[Zappo]

Originally posted by Wolfspider
Because otherwise there won't be any money to fund it at all?

Then, either divert funds from other things, or raise the taxes equally. Or make joint projects with other nations - IMO the only way to go for ultra-costly scientifical projects like space exploration.

[Zappo]

Originally posted by Axiomatic Unicorn
But taxing more productive people at a higher rate for a government that provides "communal benefit" is fair?

The benefits of having a government are much higher for people with high earnings. The benefits of space exploration are the same for sci-fi consumers and anyone else.

[Hand of Evil]

Okay, I post this earlier this week and it rolls off with only two or three comments and now HoV post it and woo!

(OT) Tax SF

It is a bad tax because it targets only people that are interested in Sci-fi. It would be like alcohol, tobacco and firearms, having a percentage of sociality footing the bill. They then could regulate it, controling the flow and direction of what we enjoy.

Do you want someone in Washington decideing that the books you read, the games (role & PC) you play, even the movies you see should have an extra cost of this tax on them. It is a tax on inteligence. Why not tax sports.

[WizarDru]

Do the words 'attention getting publicity stunt' hold any meaning to you? This guy isn't even IN congress. He's works for a supermarket chain in some capacity. He makes an outlandish statement, and gets an awful lot of attention for it, compared to what he might otherwise get.

I would be stunned to see this nebulous 'SF' tax actually be proposed, let alone taken seriously.

[PenguinKing]

Y'know, that's a point - taxation based on content could be an effective form of censorship. Take this as a precedent - what if next week, someone proposes a tax on material that depicts sex? Or violence? Or rock 'n' roll?

- Sir Bob.

[Axiomatic Unicorn]

Originally posted by Zappo
The benefits of having a government are much higher for people with high earnings. The benefits of space exploration are the same for sci-fi consumers and anyone else.

A claim I have heard many times. Funny thing is, nobody is ever able to support it.

If the government is giving more to the high producers, why don't they just stop?

[Ranger REG]

Originally posted by Zappo
Hmm... a tax is compulsory. Sorry, but I don't think anyone should be forced to pay a tax to NASA in order to view the latest Star Wars. Actually, I find the idea ridiculous, since real space exploration isn't that closely tied to Star Trek. It seems like someone thinks that sci-fi geeks are the only ones who want space exploration and therefore should be forced to pay for it. That's a monstrous notion in my eyes: knowledge is a goal and treasure of humanity as a whole. Besides, the technological breaks from space research benefit everyone equally, so why should only a portion of the population pull out the money to fund it?

You try to convince those who prefer social service that space exploration can benefit them.

Honestly, if it weren't for the military and the intelligence community, space exploration would just be a memory of our victorious race to land on the moon before the Soviets.

Then again, did we actually land on the moon? Why haven't we tried to do it again in this new millenium?

[Neowolf]

I myself am a native of Alabama, and all I can say is...please don't judge us by our politicians. We're not all fuzzy logic-wielding morons.

Edit:
After reading that article on scifi.com, I realized something... this guy works at Publix (a grocery store). When was the last time that a stockboy was elected to congress (no offense to any inventory tracking engineers in attendance )?

[Shard O'Glase]

Originally posted by Axiomatic Unicorn


But taxing more productive people at a higher rate for a government that provides "communal benefit" is fair?

Heh, while I fully agree with you, it's been a fact of life for a long time. Until we switch to a flat tax, those who produce pay more for a government that provides a communal benefit.



As for this law, I doubt it would be considered constitutional, taxing a specific form of expression is looked at really closely by the courts. But heck unconstitutional laws are passed all the time here in America.

snipped a bit when I saw I was getting a bit too political.

[William Ronald]

Overall, a bad idea.

A lot of technological breakthroughs, from medicines to new materials, have come out of space research.

The reason we have not gone back to the moon is that no one has yet found a way to make a guaranteed good profit out of it. There is some talk about lunar mining, but most people on some level act as if Earth is the center of the universe. (Copernicus not withstanding.)

Mind you knowledge does benefit people. Even if we found the fossil remains of a single celled organism on Mars or Europa, we would have to rewrite a few science books. Not to mention that we would have to deal with the philosophical issue of life having existed somewhere besides Earth.

I suspect when someone figures a way to make more money off of space, we will see the space program kick into high gear. In the mean time, most politicians will continue to believe that they are the true center of the universe.

[WizarDru]

Space exploration has yielded vast benefits in a variety of realms that you might not necessarily associate with the field. The requirements of meeting the mission required many technological advances which trickled down into common use, such as heart monitor and a host of medical technology, better understanding of physiological response, better understanding of global weather systems, advances in electronics, engineering, transport systems, and more.


Tell people that space exploration is important, and they'll rightfully glance at you funny. You need to tell them WHY it's important. A job that NASA is not fulfilling to it's best ability.

[Hand of Vecna]

Ranger REG said:

Then again, did we actually land on the moon? Why haven't we tried to do it again in this new millenium?

Because Uatu the Watcher doesn't want us getting caught in the crossfire of the Grey-Taelon war going on up there!