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I think many would buy shares in NASA - even if it was some token no return souvenir/donation/sponsor a mission kinda share issue.

by Zenst 5y ago

dragontamer 5y ago
Back in 1940s, if you wanted to support the war effort, you bought war bonds. The highway down my parent's house was supported by muni (state-level bonds). I bought bonds to support a hospital in Detroit (and made lots of money on that!!). Etc. etc. Look up muni-bonds: they support highways, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure. I don't know if there's any for NASA specifically, but plenty of options if you actually want to invest in the country itself. --------- The main downside is that they're tax-free, which means their interest rates are set such that they assume you're a millionare. So if you're paying anything less than the top-tier tax bracket, you're kinda wasting money on a risk/reward basis. That is to say: if "normal bonds" are getting 4% right now, all the munis would be priced at you'd get roughly 2.52%, assuming the top tax bracket of 37%. All bonds have a level of risk that's graded on a sliding scale: AAA bonds are the lowest risk (and lowest %rate), and C being the lowest. Funny how that works? You write the laws so to favor muni-bonds by making them largely tax free, and then suddenly the free-market takes away the advantage lol.
- CrazyStat 5y ago
  > Funny how that works? You write the laws so to favor muni-bonds by making them largely tax free, and then suddenly the free-market takes away the advantage lol. The advantage is still there, it just goes to the municipalities issuing the bonds (where it gets passed on to taxpayers).
  - dragontamer 5y ago
    I guess that's true. As someone who'd like to buy more munis however, I'm frustrated that I don't get a "piece" of the tax-savings. But you're right, the perspective is about reducing the %rates that cities / states pay, not about increasing the $$$ in my pocket as an investor.

I think many would buy shares in NASA - even if it was some token no return souvenir/donation/sponsor a mission kinda share issue.

by Zenst 5y ago

I think many would buy shares in NASA - even if it was some token no return souvenir/donation/sponsor a mission kinda share issue.

dragontamer 5y ago

Back in 1940s, if you wanted to support the war effort, you bought war bonds. The highway down my parent's house was supported by muni (state-level bonds). I bought bonds to support a hospital in Detroit (and made lots of money on that!!). Etc. etc. Look up muni-bonds: they support highways, bridges, hospitals, and other infrastructure. I don't know if there's any for NASA specifically, but plenty of options if you actually want to invest in the country itself. --------- The main downside is that they're tax-free, which means their interest rates are set such that they assume you're a millionare. So if you're paying anything less than the top-tier tax bracket, you're kinda wasting money on a risk/reward basis. That is to say: if "normal bonds" are getting 4% right now, all the munis would be priced at you'd get roughly 2.52%, assuming the top tax bracket of 37%. All bonds have a level of risk that's graded on a sliding scale: AAA bonds are the lowest risk (and lowest %rate), and C being the lowest. Funny how that works? You write the laws so to favor muni-bonds by making them largely tax free, and then suddenly the free-market takes away the advantage lol.

CrazyStat 5y ago
> Funny how that works? You write the laws so to favor muni-bonds by making them largely tax free, and then suddenly the free-market takes away the advantage lol. The advantage is still there, it just goes to the municipalities issuing the bonds (where it gets passed on to taxpayers).
- dragontamer 5y ago
  I guess that's true. As someone who'd like to buy more munis however, I'm frustrated that I don't get a "piece" of the tax-savings. But you're right, the perspective is about reducing the %rates that cities / states pay, not about increasing the $$$ in my pocket as an investor.