[Torie]

You take some examples of ill considered pork and government subsidies and bootstrap off that into calling Israel a socialist utopia. That is probably a stretch, particularly given that even after subtracting US aid, Israel's per capita income is quite high. One could cite examples of pork in the US. Does that make the US a socialist utopia? (Ya, I know, the utopia part was just sarcasm on your part.)

And I'm not sure 54% of the GNP figure is that high when you consider what Israel spends on defense. The US spends what on defense - 5%? Israel probably spends 20% or more as a wild guess.

Finally, you really do have an interesting technique for winning friends and influencing people. Just keep spewing out the vinegar at everyone in sight.

[Illbay]

First, notice one major point the analyst--who is an ISRAELI free-market conservative, mind you--makes is that these items were all culled from just ONE DAY'S worth of headlines in the Israeli press.

I think you can dispense, then, with the notion that this is some sort of "aberration". It is, instead, what you are dealing with in Israel.

Israel deserves no more adulation in the way the do things, than FRANCE does, that much is clear.

And as far as "winning friends and influencing people": I don't suppose you'd consider it reasonable of me to tell you to stop putting forth your opinions since there are "plenty" here and elsewhere on FR who don't agree with you.

I have noticed that as soon as folks like you run out of arguments, the invective begins instead. Means you have nothing else useful to say, I suppose.