Response To Call Up 'Almost 100%'

Ha'aretz ^ | April 1, 2002 | Amos Harel

[dennisw]

You hair is on fire still. My comments were good and make sense to all but you.

[LarryLied]

What you have linked to is an index of economic freedom. It does not measure civil liberties or political freedom. I think that makes your post just a tad dishonest.

Without economic freedom, there is no freedom. And don't tell me the people can vote to change it. Once you get socialism so entrenched, too many people are feeding off others to change a thing. It usually takes a war, a serious depression or a revolution to change those types of societies.

[LarryLied]

Get serious. Heritage Foundation states that their ranking is according to "Economic Freedom."

Third freeper so far who dismisses economic freedom. Shocking. Just shocking. I'm disappointed in you comrade.

[HockeyPop]

You sound like some agent of our state came by your home this weekend and cut down your citrus trees. Redirect your aim and pick out some other targets and you and I can be on the same page.

[dennisw]

You sound like some agent of our state came by your home this weekend and cut down your citrus trees.

_________________________

OUCH! That's painful. Time to plant mangoes. I've eaten plenty of canker fruit in my life. Never harmed me one bit.

[Southern Federalist]

Like I said, don't let me stop you from relocating to the UAR. Hey, with their wonderful economic freedom they'll probably have a free press any day.

You types will utter any form of stupidity utterly without embarrassment in order to slur Israel, won't you? Try telling us that pigs only fly in Arab countries next time. That's about as credible.

[HockeyPop]

Remember that since it's creation, Israel has had a perpetual war time economy. Thirty percent of her budget goes to defense. Her needs and requirements cannot be compared to those of our nation. Continual tweaking and micromanaging her economy by government has given her people 12x the income of the individual Egyptian. One wonders where Israel could go and what benefits she may bring to the world with peaceful neighbors.

[over3Owithabrain]

the likes of Peres bowing to the Europeans and weakening his own country's resolve.

They have Peres, we have Powell.
sigh...

[jwalsh07]

That big bad bully Israel picking on all those Arabs and Muslims is in yellow. A picture is worth a thousand words, eh?

[Southern Federalist]

Here is a wonderful story from the freedom-loving United Arab Emirates.

Dubai court endorses wife beating

Moving, isn't it, how the economic freedom of the glorious Emirates has brought women to the point that their husbands can only beat them if they don't "damage her bones or deform her body." Wow!

I'm sure it will take socialist Israel decades to reach this pitch of Enlightenment.

[LarryLied]

You types will utter any form of stupidity utterly without embarrassment in order to slur Israel, won't you?

Telling the truth is not slurring anyone. I'm only providing some balance. We hear over and over how Israel is the only democracy in the area as if that is some wonderful thing. It isn't when they are more loaded down with government than Germany or Great Britian. Business associate of mine hustles in NYC 6 months a year and spends the rest of her time in Israel. I asked her why she didn't work there and she looked at me as if I were crazy. This woman who buys in Cambodia and makes it selling in high-tax NYC won't even try in Israel.

Btw..I am not a Libertarian. Ask any Libertarian on FR.

[LarryLied]

Typical logic we see all too much of on FR recently. Somebody does something somewhere else so that makes something else OK. The Clinton excuse has permeated some minds to the exclusion of all else.

Wife beating where ever has no bearing on Israel being a socialist state which beats people into the dirt (except for the crooks and the rich, they thrive on that kind of system).

[LarryLied]

Redirect your aim and pick out some other targets and you and I can be on the same page.

We probably are already. I just believe one should be able to point out the truth without being labeled a Arafat lover.

A war economy does have a lot to do with Israel being a socialist state but it does go deeper than that. I doubt peace would change a thing. Looking around the world today and at history suggests socialism is the default setting. Most minorities do endorse socialism. It protects them from the majority by destroying civic groups and civic society.

[Southern Federalist]

Somebody does something somewhere else so that makes something else OK.

I said no such thing. You were the one who said that the United Arab Emirates had more freedom than Israel. I was just looking for some examples of freedom in the UAR.

Your hate has apparently trapped you in a fantasy world where you can say embarrassingly silly and indeed truly insane things like this with a straight face. I feel very sorry for you, but I cannot think that arguing with you will contribute to healing what is obviously a deeply troubled mind. That would take specialized help which I am not able to provide.

[LarryLied]

Your hate has apparently trapped you in a fantasy world where you can say embarrassingly silly and indeed truly insane things like this with a straight face. I feel very sorry for you, but I cannot think that arguing with you will contribute to healing what is obviously a deeply troubled mind. That would take specialized help which I am not able to provide.

I'll say one thing in my defense. I never post anything like that. Am I really here? Or have I entered the Democrat Underground Zone?

[a_witness]

"We have no choice but to act to fulfill the basic responsibility of a country to its people - to assure their right to live in peace and security," the message said. He called on the men to be careful to preserve a "human face" and desist from harming the innocent. "The spirit of voluntarism and the rate of reporting for duty [in reserve units] are praiseworthy, and add honor and security and testify to our the endurance and unity of Israeli society." He ended his message by saying, "We are embarking on this operation in order to defend our homes, our right and that of our parents, our brothers and our children to live in peace and security."

Thank you for your service and sacrifice. May the LORD God of Israel protect and defend you, bringing each of you back to your families in due time.

[Southern Federalist]

I was trying to say the following in a nice way:

Anyone who posts that Israel is less free than the United Arab Emirates is either a totally shameless Big Lie propagandist, or a lunatic. If you don't like the second suggestion, you are certainly free to adopt the first.

Freedom House, using a rating system based on political rights and civil liberties, on a scale of 7 to 1 (worst to best) gives the UAR a 6 for political rights and a 5 for civil rights, and rates it "Not Free." Israel receives a 1 for political rights and a 2 for civil rights, and is of course rated "Free." Go to Freedom House and see for yourself. Not that I think it will penetrate.

To suggest that even economic freedom can be secure in autocratic countries with no rule of law, where policy is at the whim of the overlord, is foolish. Heritage Foundation should know better. Those freedoms could vanish overnight at the whim of any given Emir.

What you have written is simply silly. It is flat-earth foolishness. It is on a level with Soviet spokesmen who stared dully at western reporters and robotically insisted, "There is complete freedom of religion in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics."

If you like this better, I'm fine with it: arguing with someone who can make claims like this with a straight face is only rewarding to those who enjoy banging their heads against brick walls. I am not in that group.

[seeker41]

Glad you find it useful. A guy named Yossi who lives in Tel Aviv did this for Massada.org. I got real interested in Israel's plight after I visited there last summer. Upon my return I told everyone I knew that "The muslims were gonna be coming for us soon". I was there in July of 2001! Then 911 happened! I get gut feelings about things.