Conference 7.286::space

Nice idea, but in reality, I don't think it would work very well.  Assume
that 100,000,000 (100 million) returns are filed each year. That means if
everyone contributed (very unlikely), that you would end up with $100
million -- a mere drop in the bucket.  If 40% of filers (say 40 million)
contributed an average of $25, you end up with $1 billion -- still a
paltry amount.

How much are you willing to contribute?  I belong to two pro-space groups
-- the National Space Institute and the Planetary Society.  Yes, I am in
favor of both manned (NSI) and unmanned (PS) programs.  I think that
annual membership in these organizations is $30, but with my extra
donations to these organizations, I contribute about $100 a year.  What do
I get for this aside from some nice, glossy magazines?  These groups
basically lobby congress to get support of various programs.  When key
votes are coming up, they notify you so that you in turn can contact your
congressman and senators.  Not a bad deal for the money and I think that
it is effective.

	Mike

The main argument against .0 is that every T, D, and H with a cause would
want to do the same thing.  Election checkoff, NASA checkoff, NSF checkoff,
NIH Checkoff, National Endowment for the Arts/Humanities, ... Eventually,
maybe we'd even have an SDI checkoff!

One could say Great...so much the better that we have a more direct democracy,
but I believe that most people would not no enough about the issues to decide
intelligently how much should go to what.  That is what our representative
and their staff are for.

--------------------------------

On the other hand, there is precedent for establishing a private fund and
giving the results to NASA.  It is the Viking Fund, established by the
Planetary Society to enable analysis of data from the Viking Mars landers
to continue, even after budget cuts.

Burns

A Shuttle fund has been created - I believe it is here in Colorado Springs.
If there is interest, I'll research the information - Let's hear some replies, 
if you want information.
				Bruce

Well, I already entered a request along this line before getting to this
note.  A 'Shuttle Fund' may be a bit more specific than what I had in
mind, but any information would be useful.

I agree that tax return check-offs are a kludge.  Although no doubt they
raise significant amounts of money simply by their ease of contributing
(especially in the case where you're really contributing not your own
money but simply electing to reallocate $1 from the general coffers), I
guess on the whole I don't believe they're a good idea (rather arbitrary,
no provision for 'equal time', etc.).

Now, if a multi-page sheet with a whole bunch of national, generic causes
or institutions one could choose to contribute to were substituted, I'd
be happier with the process.

But that's a digression.  Each year, I try to contribute something fairly
substantial (beyond my modest UF allocation) to some area I feel is
particularly worthwhile.  I suspect some significant number of others
do somewhat the same thing.  NASA certainly fits the bill for me, and
probably for some of them also - and over the past decade, NASA has
become much better at extracting full value from what they can get,
even if it's in the millions rather than in the billions.
								- Bill

RE: 1,3

OK, You have my interest here...

Can you provide an address/phone number for these institutions/funds?

Thanks,

Cliff_S

Would good ole Digital accept NASA or the Shuttle Fund relative to matching
funds?  Could it be checked as as educational institution?

Don

I'd be interested (and I'm sure other readers of this file would be too)
to know a little more about the NSI and PS mentioned in .1

Anyone like enter some more details about them and some addresses?

gary

I'll bring in the info tomorrow.  I should have put it in over the
weekend, but didn't think of it.

	Mike

See note 133 titled Pro-Space Groups.

	Mike

	If someone hears about a Shuttle Fund I would appreciate any
information about it in this note file . I feel that it is to much to
hope for that it could raise $1.5 billion ,however maybe we can show 
our legislators, and the rest of the world how we feel about our space
programs ,and maybe help them somewhat . I think its worth a try . Its
at least better than simply talking about our support for NASA.
	Also I think the name SPIRIT would be a great name for a shuttle
sponsored in part maybe, by this fund . Anybody else agree ?

The fund is at:

	First National Bank
	PO Box 51L
	Colorado Springs, Co, 80901

	(303) 550-1000

					Bruce

	Thanx Bruce for the address.

				Michael Gallant