Viddler

First, here are my sources on the U.S. Tax Burden:

http://www.newsobserver.com/622/story/1482447.html

http://www.taxfoundation.org/

These are the web sites that zipped by too quickly to read:

http://www.joepuente.com

http://www.joepuente.net

http://www.utahfilmworks.com

My Resumes:

http://www.joepuente.com/jlpresume.pdf

http://www.joepuente.net/jpresume.pdf

And here are the details on my little pitch (the fine print, if you will):

Yes, I am totally serious.

What's the point of making such a proposition? To show people in the upper brackets that even after taxes they're doing much better (assuming they're living within their means) than the other 95% of Americans who are much more seriously effected by taxes even at lower rates.

But let's review the basic components of my proposal so I can clarify my use of certain semantics.

I speak of putting "your money where MY mouth is," services "that I can offer," a promise that "I pay all appropriate federal and state taxes," that "I will donate a portion of that money...reducing MY net proceeds to 50%" and that "I won't claim a deduction," "Leaving ME with $100,000" but you will note that I do not use the word "income" in reference to ME.

When I do contract work of any kind--videography, writing, acting, etc.--I operate through my non profit, Utah FilmWorks. All proceeds, either through contracts or direct donations, go toward fulfilling the organization's mission. I DO NOT draw a salary (my personal income is unrelated to my efforts with the organization) BUT I do make all decisions regarding how organization funds are spent so, in that sense, it certainly feels like "my money" even though technically it isn't; though when the organization has no funds in its bank account, I will often make certain purchases (MiniDV tapes, travel, equipment, etc.) for which I can be