[ForTheKidz]

Hell no. That's what the state and taxes are for. I certainly don't need more crap from a gift shop in my life. The reason why I'm proud to be an american is because we fund stuff like this an national parks and libraries and the best postal service in the world. Without these things we're just sad, ignorant people obsessed with money and comfort

[iancmceachern]

I think you'll be surprised at how little of your taxes go to those things and how many of those things are actually supported by donations and proceeds from sales of things like memorabilia in gift shops.

I bought gifts for people. They liked them. I'm sure you can think of some children in your life who would appreciate a notion of caring from the Smithsonian.

[saagarjha]

I can definitely buy a gift for people. I also want to take them to taxpayer-funded institutions.

[kelnos]

Most of your taxes (assuming you live in the US) go to Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the military.

> The reason why I'm proud to be an american is because we fund stuff like this an national parks and libraries and the best postal service in the world.

That's hilarious. All those things you mention have suffered budget shortfalls and funding cuts, continuously, over the past couple decades. There's a certain political party that would rather defund and privatize everything, funneling money to their cronies in corporate America. So we get ads and other garbage.