The Second Private Space Flight Sparks Demand To Tax Space

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   GA Andersonposted 4 years ago

   Ok, ok, so here's the deal. The title is accurate but framed for clickbait. So sue me. :-)
   
   I contemplated trying to keep my bias out of this explanation but quickly decided that would be impossible. I see many statements about how Conservatives think and this blurb lets me show you.
   
   Her's the real title and article: Bezos' comments on workers after spaceflight draws rebuke
   
   "After the spaceflight, Bezos awarded $100 million donations through a new philanthropic initiative to both D.C. chef Jose Andres and CNN contributor Van Jones to put towards any charity or nonprofit of their choice. Jones has founded a number of nonprofit organizations and Andres’ nonprofit group World Central Kitchen provides meals to people following natural disasters.
   
   Nevertheless, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who is on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, proposed on Tuesday legislation that would tax space travel for non-scientific research purposes."
   
   Of course, there is more to this AP article to give you the context of the quoted blurb, but my first thought was that this is the perfect example of why Conservatives might think the way they do about Democrat Liberals.
   
   Aha! Said the Democrat politician now we can tax space and in a few years we can tax Galactic travel too!"
   
   Here we have a monumental advance in spaceflight, (celebrated by the nation and the President), that will pay dividends to society's future and the first thing a Democrat thinks about is taxing it. Geesh.
   
   To be clear I am not saying all Democrats think like this guy. I am also not trying to turn this into a bigger issue, (the "tax space" thing, not the Democrat stereotype thing), than it is. And, he may be a fringe element of the Party. But he sure doesn't help in dispelling that Conservative stereotype.
   
   GA

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      Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

      GA,
      
      "Aha! Said the Democrat politician now we can tax space and in a few years we can tax Galactic travel too!"
      -------
      I think the idea is premature right now, but one of these days when space travel can become as routine as air travel is today, there could well be a "sales tax" as part of the cost of the ticket.
      
      Right now this "fellow" is on the fringe. But I have heard plenty of hairbrained ideas from conservatives and what scares me is that many of them find favor within their mainstream.

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         GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

         Your "premature" characterization seems very `charitable' to me.
         
         I can accept the idea of a "sales tax"  or Federal fee or tax comparable to what we already accept for airline flights, and the guy even mentioned that comparison in the rest of his statement.
         
         But, when I look at what he said, the thought process behind his words conveys a message, (to me), that a comparable `cost' isn't what he has in mind.: "Space exploration isn’t a tax-free holiday for the wealthy. . .” and ". . . billionaires who fly into space to produce nothing of scientific value should do the same, and then some.”
         
         I even chuckled at his enthusiastic "and then some."
         
         I don't know anything about this guy, or what he is really talking about and I am not interested enough, (yet), to go look. I was just reading the AP article when I came across his statement.
         
         My instant perception was the point of the OP. What an idiot. This guy is on the tax-writing committee and yet, he has no concept of timing or perception. I could forget about this guy and his issue tomorrow, but the door was wide open.
         
         Consider this image that a political cartoonist might draw:
         
         A hero standing on a podium surrounded by a massive crowd of the nation and its leaders cheering the scientific and technological advancements, and, celebrating the hero for those accomplishments ...
         
         . . . and one little guy in the very back, (clutching a fistful of tax committee papers in one hand and angrily waving his pointed finger at the hero with the other), yelling, "Wait, he hasn't paid his fair share, he has to pay—and then some!"
         
         Premature?
         
         GA

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            Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

            This fellow who complains expresses just envy and jealousy, that cannot be a reason to apply a tax to the activities of the wealthy.
            
            His message is not necessarily one reflecting the desires of progressive and liberally minded people.

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               GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

               Are you saying that after thinking about it, re. your "progressive and liberal people" characterization, your "premature" might have been premature?
               
               GA ;-)

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                  Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

                  Nothing so profound, paying your "fair share" is still a must but that has nothing to do with one taking a suborbital flight.
                  
                  My "premature" is not confused. It just so happens that I am in ageeement with you here, this time.

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                     GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

                     " . . . this time," . . . [i[again. poke, poke,   :-0[/b][/i]
                     
                     GA

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years ago

   From the article:
   "Rep. Earl Blumenauer, who is on the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, proposed on Tuesday legislation that would tax space travel for non-scientific research purposes.
   
   “Space exploration isn’t a tax-free holiday for the wealthy,” said Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat. “Just as normal Americans pay taxes when they buy airline tickets, billionaires who fly into space to produce nothing of scientific value should do the same, and then some.”
   
   Others tied his spaceflight to reports that Bezos hasn’t paid his fair share of taxes. According to the nonprofit investigative journalism organization ProPublica, Bezos paid no income tax in 2007 and 2011.
   
   “Jeff Bezos forgot to thank all the hardworking Americans who actually paid taxes to keep this country running while he and Amazon paid nothing,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., tweeted."

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3. 84

   Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years ago

   Representative Earl Blumenauer
   "... is currently a member of
   The Ways and Means Committee,
   Chairman of the subcommittee on Trade
   and is a member of the subcommittee on Health.
   
   These committee assignments give Earl a unique platform to promote critical issues like
   
   health care reform,
   Medicare for All, and
   the Green New Deal to combat global warming.
   
   His priorities also include
   
   healthcare reform,
   honest trade,
   financing critical infrastructure,
   building livable communities in a global economy,
   economic security for working families,
   protection of public lands,
   stopping gun violence,
   ending the prohibition of marijuana and
   criminal justice reform."
   
   Yep, he's a progressive liberal democrat, all right.
   They need so much money for all their dreams ... why not tax the people for it?
   Thats where it  a l w a y s  comes from!
   
   ... so what else is new, GA?
   
   (No stereotyping here, just the facts.)

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      Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

      "Healthcare reform, honest trade, financing critical infrastructure, building livable communities in a global economy, economic security for working families, protection of public lands, stopping gun violence, ending the prohibition of marijuana and criminal justice reform."
      
      So, I presume that only conservatives are against these things?

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   IslandBitesposted 4 years ago

   The press release
   
   He has good points. So I say, who cares what conservatives think about him or "Democrat Liberals".
   
   
   
   
   Well, not that premature, IMHO. Virgin Galactic is already selling tickets and has plans to begin passenger launches in 2022.

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      Credence2posted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Islandbites,
      
      Yeah you have a point here. But, it just might be me, but this all seems like an expensive stunt or rollercoaster ride for the super rich.
      
      I think on the history of aviation and the cost of flying only came down when more people could be carried as passengers. That required bigger planes and more powerful engines.
      
      The technology, propulsion and sheer energy requirements to imitate the 787 in space travel is not at hand right now according to the astrophysicists.
      
      I won't say that this idea will not ever be viable, but I do believe that it is not "around the corner". Then we can talk about taxes.

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         IslandBitesposted 3 years agoin reply to this

         I remembered this thread when I read this today.
         
         SpaceX launches first all-civilian orbit crew into space
         
         Elon Musk's SpaceX and its civilian crew is making history with their Wednesday evening launch.
         
         The first all-civilian orbit crew launched into space at 8:03 p.m. on Wednesday in another milestone for space tourism.
         
         During the three-day mission, the Crew Dragon spacecraft aims to reach a roughly 360-mile altitude, which would be the highest since the Gemini 10 and 11 missions in 1966. The launch is also the first time that initial launch and landing will be guided without an astronaut on board.
         
         Isaacman, who is a billionaire and is heading the mission, paid $200 million for the flight's four seats.

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      GA Andersonposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Oh well, such is life. The Press release was even more condemning for me. But to be clear, I accept the same type of Federal`tax' as our current air flight costs. Is that one of the "good points" you mean? Neither the first blurb nor the Press release explanation led me to believe that was what he was talking about.
      
      The press release confirmed that perception in its mention of proposed tier tax structures beyond the current per-person tax structure.
      
      Also, I think a cavalier "who cares" misses the point. For both ideologies, "who cares" does matter.
      
      GA

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   Readmikenowposted 4 years ago

   Reminds me of a song from the Beatles called "Tax Man"
   
   One, two, three, four
   One, two (one, two, three, four!)
   
   Let me tell you how it will be
   There's one for you, nineteen for me
   'Cause I'm the taxman
   Yeah, I'm the taxman
   
   Should five per cent appear too small?
   Be thankful I don't take it all
   'Cause I'm the taxman
   Yeah, I'm the taxman
   
   (If you drive a car, car)
   I'll tax the street
   (If you try to sit, sit)
   I'll tax your seat
   (If you get too cold, cold)
   I'll tax the heat
   (If you take a walk, walk)
   I'll tax your feet
   
   Taxman!
   
   'Cause I'm the taxman
   Yeah, I'm the taxman
   
   Don't ask me what I want it for
   (Ha, ha, Mr. Wilson)
   If you don't want to pay some more
   (Ha, ha, Mr. Heath)
   'Cause I'm the taxman
   Yeah, I'm the taxman
   
   Now my advice for those who die
   (Taxman!)
   Declare the pennies on your eyes
   (Taxman!)
   
   'Cause I'm the taxman
   Yeah, I'm the taxman (yeah, I'm the taxman)
   And you're working for no one but me (taxman!)

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      Kathryn L Hillposted 4 years agoin reply to this

      Yay, George!

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