A good way to fund NASA and the NSF would be to create a "technology trust fund" funded by a small tax on the sale of gadgets and software. This would operate

A good way to fund NASA and the NSF would be to create a "technology trust fund" funded by a small tax on the sale of gadgets and software. This would operate like the National Highway Trust Fund, which helps maintain the interstate highway system and is funded through a fuel tax. Because the money comes from a tax dedicated to the purpose, congress doesn't get to change the funding formula every time they pass a budget. While a future congress could dissolve the fund, that's a lot bigger step than adding or deleting appropriations during the budgetary hog-trading process.