To: JohnGalt
Your views are, at best, dated. Israel began moving seriously to a free market economy in 1977 when Menachem Begin was elected, and the trend has continued ever since, most recently with the privatization of El Al, Israel's national airline. (There have also been competing, private Israeli airlines, like Tower Air, for years.)
Every successful western economy, including the United States, is a blend of capitalism and socialism. Examples of socialism in the American system include social security and medicare. Does the government build roads in America, or are they all private toll roads? See what I mean?
The one area where Israel is more socialistic that the U.S. national healthcare. Other than that the two systems are remarkably similar nowadays. Heck, even the Labor Party claims to be for a free market, since any other view in Israel today is unpopular at best.
The problem isn't economic regulation. The problems are the heavy dependency on high tech and the ongoing war with the Palestinians. The war has indirect costs, too, like the disappearance of tourism revenues, once very important to the Israeli economy.
Oh, and yes, the U.S. administration does severely restrict how Israel can fight its war.
To: anotherview
I think it's bad timing by Netanyahu as America's economy is not exaclty firing on all cylinders right now, and the always charitable American taxpayers have many domestic financial anxieties.
After the war is over and won would be better time for this kind of request, IMHO.
8 posted on
03/10/2003 1:16:38 PM PST by
mr.pink
To: anotherview
That's absurd on so many levels.
Compare tax rates where Israel has a 50% top rate plus a 36% capital gains tax; or compare one-third of the population working for some part of the government, not including what the military employs.
10 posted on
03/10/2003 1:41:06 PM PST by
JohnGalt
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