More than 60% of ultra-orthodox Israeli men do not work

Per capita income in the USA was $39,138 in 2009 - comparing that to the $14,000 that you quoted Israel and I have a hard to understanding how anyone could say Israelis have a higher standard of living.

As of for their standard of living being better. That's a no brainier - the folks that control the oil wells certainly don't spread the wealth with their fellow country men, and when was the last time you used an Arab invention? When was the last time you used an Israeli invention? (I'll give you a hint - you are probably using at least one right now.)

Have any proof to back up your statement that Israel has Universal Healthcare thanks to the US?

__________________
Wags Ranch Nigerians


"The Constitution says to promote the general welfare, not to provide welfare!" ~ Lt. Col Allen West

The $14,000 posted by another poster isn't the per capita income but merely
how much the US gives in aid each yr per capita. My point is, and then I will
discontinue this thread because contrary to what you may think I am NOT
anti-semitic but definitely anti-Zionist, IF i were King for a day I could STOP
all the conflict in the ME merely by stopping all funding to Israel. Then, as
the other poster also indicated, the avg. Israeli citizen would have to CHOOSE
whether they wanted to continue their relatively high standard of living, such
as their healthcare, OR make PEACE with their neighbors! If they were footing
the bill THEMSELVES I dare say there wouldn't be all this settlement building
and constant provacative actions. Period. [Now we can start the debate of
who's being provactive...Consult UN Resolution 242 and get back to me...]

__________________
"These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people..."
Abraham Lincoln, from his first speech as an Illinois state legislator, 1837

This is an interesting question. Here are some more facts:

1. PCWERK is correct that the earlier citation I gave is mixing up per capita income with per capita US support, but

2. When I looked at other sources, Israel has a lower per capita income than the US, and rather than being 16th wealthiest nation were around #40, which

3. gives rise to the question whether per capita income is an adequate proxy measurement for standard of living.

Notwithstanding all of the above, if you go to the Income section of the following link, it suggests that the median household income (not per capita) for Israel was $37,000 as opposed to $49,000 for the US. Median might be a better indicator, as 25% of Israel's population is Haredi Jews or Arab both of which have high birth rates and low labour force participation. This would skew arithmetic mean averages.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Israel

Conclusion? I think the US has more income, and presumably a higher average standard of living than Israel. Israel though is definitely at a "first world" level, and achieves that through significant subsidy from America.

All the more reason for America to stop funding Israels' aggression and start focusing on our own people and our own problems.

They could all sit home and play the dradle all day long for all I care so long as I don't end up paying for it!

Since think you are so wise in matters of the middle east answer this question please:

How would you go about making peace with an enemy that doesn't believe you have a right to exist?

__________________
Wags Ranch Nigerians


"The Constitution says to promote the general welfare, not to provide welfare!" ~ Lt. Col Allen West

Funny you keep pointing to me when several others are commenting on this thread? The more you talk about this issue the more you will find unhappiness
with US policy toward Israel--basically, give them all the money they want and turn a blind eye to anything they do to the Palestinians. If the word could ever get out, which is difficult since the media is overwhelmingly Pro-
Israel, I dare say you would find a swift change in policy.
As far as how I would make peace, I would start by recognizing a legitimate
grievance on the part of the expelled Palestinians. I would demand that Israel stop building settlements, end the blockade of Gaza, and do away with ALL military lobbyists that help perpetuate the status quo, by influencing both Israeli and US policy. The military-industrial complex only wants WAR. As Ralph Nader says, I wouldn't violate "Negotiating 101" by being for one side over the other. I would bring all sides to the negotiating table and start
by making each side avow the use of continued violence. Btw, there is a
peace movement in Israel as well and I would do all that I could to support it;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israeli_peace_camp

I would try to bring about a genuine democracy on both sides, since I am a
firm believe that democracy is what it takes to get rid of most of the ills in
societies--and not the sham democracy that we all know about but true
democracy that doesn't allow the monied interests to take over the system
(not sure if its even possible in a capitalist system--Einstein didn't think so).
Anyway, this is a start but I am confident that if you could do these things
you would make a bigger dent in bringing about peace than anything thats
happened up to now.
jim

__________________
"These capitalists generally act harmoniously and in concert, to fleece the people..."
Abraham Lincoln, from his first speech as an Illinois state legislator, 1837

If you are going to make a racist and antisemitic post you should at least learn the proper spelling of the word you use as an insult.

FYI, it's dreidel

__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi


Libertarindependent

"Exo 35:2 Six days shall work be done..."

The priests did work too, of the temple and tons of slaughtering, they even had to work on Sabbaths.

__________________
The 7th Day is still God's Sabbath
ICOG7.ORG
Layton Hollow ADGA Nubians
Taking Reservation for 2015!

Hmmm.... didn't mention you by name now did I?

And you danced around the issue of the Palestinians refusal to recognize Israels right to exist. Israel pulled out of Gaza in a land for peace deal - and what did they get? More rockets fired from Gaza. The Palestinians didn't keep their end of the bargain did they?

And I strongly disagree that the mainstream media in the USA is pro-Israel. I believe the opposite it true. There are constantly stories about "refugee camps" but they aren't camps they are cities. And how about the billions of aid we are giving to the Palestinians, why aren't you complaining about that?

__________________
Wags Ranch Nigerians


"The Constitution says to promote the general welfare, not to provide welfare!" ~ Lt. Col Allen West

Frankly if not for the UN and Brits there would be no Israel in its current location.

They turned to terrorism post WW2 to gain a homeland and then took a place with people already living there. You come and kick me out of my home I might be pretty upset too.

Would have preferred they can sit and wail at the wall so long as we are not paying for it?

Not sure where you get racist or anti-semitic out of the comment?

Jews already owned land in their homeland and were buying up additional land long before the British ran the Ottoman's out.

As for the Arabs that left - they did so at the behest of the surrounding Arab nations that attacked Israel the day after Israel declared Independence. Those Arab nations had promised the population a total victory and told them to get out of the way.

About the same number of Jews were driven out from surrounding Arab nations as Arabs that left voluntarily Israel. A pretty even exchange of refugees.

__________________
Wags Ranch Nigerians


"The Constitution says to promote the general welfare, not to provide welfare!" ~ Lt. Col Allen West

That link says that the US gives 2.85 BILLION DOLLARS this year to Israel; then, another 3 Big B's next year.
I'm just wondering where in the Constitution that is written. I'm looking forward to the TP fixing that issue beginning 1/5/11.

Thanks for the informative link Alice.

__________________
Paul Bridges - LaCabra Farm; Uvalda, Georgia - USA

Ummmmmmm, no.

__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi


Libertarindependent

OK, how about if I said " lets stop paying welfare to Americans, they can sit home and eat fried chicken and smoke crack for all I care" ?

__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi


Libertarindependent

You would hardly be the first.

I'm not putting it at your doorstep, but dude, that happens on this forum about twice a week....

Correct. Here's a pro-Israel site that shows the history of "ownership" of the area through maps. Some of the text is a bit volatile, but everyone should take a good look at the maps:
http://www.masada2000.org/historical.html

What I'd like to know is why the Palestinians aren't demanding their land from Jordan.

__________________
"If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world" - Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo Baggins, in JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit"

And someone always calls it racist.

__________________
Flaming Xtian
I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.
Mahatma Gandhi


Libertarindependent

Arafat tried to take over Jordon and was booted. No Arab country wants them, otherwise they would have been absorbed and taken care of by their Arab brothers a long time ago.

__________________
Wags Ranch Nigerians


"The Constitution says to promote the general welfare, not to provide welfare!" ~ Lt. Col Allen West