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Petition for Minimum 30% Tax Rate on $1,000,000+ Income

BLT_AdM — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 13:26:52 +0000

David Hylton just started a petition on the White House petitions site, We the People. The petition is as follows. Will you sign it? http://wh.gov/KmX

We petition the Obama administration to require those who make $1,000,000 or more a year to pay a minimum tax rate of at least 30%.

For an income tax system to be fair it must, at the very least, apply a base tax rate universally to all citizens, from low- to high-income earners. A more socially-conscious system would scale taxes so that the poor pay the lowest rates and the wealthy the highest. In the U.S. we don’t have a fair scaled tax, or even a bare-bones flat tax. We are in a democracy where an upper-class taxpayer making $1,000,000 or more in annual income is eligible for a tax rate significantly lower than that for a middle-class taxpayer. Disproportionately rewarding passive wealth accumulation is counterproductive in creating a flourishing and sustainable society. At the very least, those earning $1,000,000+ should pay a rate of 30%, as suggested by Warren Buffet. Thank you for your attention.

The petition must get 25,000 signatures within 30 days in order for it to be reviewed by the White House. You can view and sign the petition at the following link: http://wh.gov/KmX

Lunar Eclipse

BLT_AdM — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 03:57:38 +0000

The December 10th Lunar Eclipse as seen from Obuse Japan around 10:30pm. The photo was taken by a tripod-mounted Canon 60D and 28-135mm lens.

One Day on Earth

BLT_AdM — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 03:25:20 +0000

Here are the photos I submitted to the One Day on Earth project. Hope you find them interesting.

Find more photos like this on One Day on Earth

2011 Obuse Film Festival Photos

BLT_AdM — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 00:08:11 +0000

The 2011 Obuse Film Festival was held November 26th and 27th at Hokusai Hall, right next to the Town Office Building and about 100 meters from Obuse’s Nagano Dentetsu Train Station. We had fantastic weather both days. Here is a slideshow of photos taken during the event. Please enjoy and be sure to tell all your friends to join in the fun next near!

2011 Obuse Film Festival

BLT_AdM — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:23:24 +0000

The 9th Obuse Film Festival is scheduled for November 25th, 26th and 27th. One-day tickets are ¥1000 advanced purchase, and ¥1200 at the door. Elementary through university student tickets are ¥1000. Tickets can be purchased at Ala Obuse, tel: 026-247-5741.

The 60-second Film Competition Awards Ceremony will be held from 6pm on the 26th. Admission is free.

For more details, check out the Obuse Film Festival website (Japanese) here: http://www.obusefilmfestival.jp/

Hope to see you there!

Happy Halloween!

BLT_AdM — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 09:57:38 +0000

Happy Halloween from Japan!

Barefoot College: An Extremely Successful Model for Community Development

BLT_AdM — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 01:45:57 +0000

I just watched a TED.com video on the Barefoot College made by it’s founder, Bunker Roy. It’s an amazing project in which village men and woman are taught to become craftspeople, solar engineers, doctors and dentists. The project has been so successful in rural India, that it has been replicated in villages in other developing countries. Communities in developed countries could learn a lot from this example.

Joyama Craft Fair

BLT_AdM — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 09:26:14 +0000

My family had a great time at the Joyama (Nagano) Craft fair today. One of the highlights for my son was aluminum casting the initial of his first name.

I also bumped into fellow staff and students from the Nagano School of Art and Design. They seemed to be having a good time!

Hokusai Concert in Obuse

BLT_AdM — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 02:46:08 +0000

Hokusai Concert in Obuse

When: October 30, 2011 from 2pm

Where: Obuse Hokusai Hall

Tickets: ¥1000, ¥1200 at the door (Junior High students and younger are free)

日本語情報: http://machitoshoterrasow.com/

小布施音楽祭

BLTMobile — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 10:06:56 +0000

楽しいですよ！早く来てね！