Opinion
Ministers of nothing
Gad Lior
Published: 15.04.08, 17:55
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17 Talkbacks for this article
1. EXACTLY
Simon Doerksen ,   Winnipeg Canada   (04.15.08)
Israel's most repulsive feature is it's bloated government. If you want to attract "anglos" that has to change! Israel's government can find plenty of money to waste to benefit bureaucrats, but not a cent for the people of Sderot? Who wants to live under such incompetence!?
2. How very disturbing.
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (04.15.08)
This report will be forwarded to the Minister of Ministerial Affairs for further study.
3. Spin from the PMO ...
Terry ,   Eilat, Israel   (04.15.08)
"Our gov't. is making a major effort at increased job creation." "Our record is clear, unemployment is our major concern."
4. israeli gov't
roey   (04.15.08)
so many corrupt useless politicians that take forever to make the right decision even when not blinded by extortion and coalition bickering
5. And more useless ministers also.
Jack ,   San Dego, USA   (04.15.08)
6. Is like Brazil !!!!!!!!!!!!
hélio Rosenvald ,   Brasil   (04.15.08)
Is like Brazil !!!!! Idiots cust money for nothing!!!!!!
7. Don't forget Shamir Gad
Sheila ,   Jerusalem Israel   (04.15.08)
Prime Minister Shamir, in 1988, had nineteen ministers with portfolio, including the vice-prime minister and two deputy prime ministers. I agree with you Gad, there should be change. Constituency voting - each politician being responsible specifically to his voters.
8. number of useless ministers
sas ,   israel   (04.15.08)
SO SO TRUE and even LIVNE SHOULD GO HOME. she has ruined the foreign ministry, has appointed ambassadors that should be drivers.......... SHE IS GOOD FOR NOTHING.
9. New Title
Noah ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (04.15.08)
Ehud Olmert has replaced the title of "Minister Without Portfolio", with that of "Deputy Prime Minister". Almost every minister in Olmert's gov't is also a "Deputy PM". Chaim Ramon is the exception. He's Deputy PM but nothing else. I think the belt tightening so urgently needed in the cabinet should start with the dismissal of Ramon, one of if not the biggest wastes of tax payer money in Israel.
10. Absent real political reform, nothing will change
Raymond in DC ,   Washington, DC USA   (04.15.08)
Let's not forget the Ministries that make no sense, e.g. "Science, Culture and Sports", or the notion that Ministers need no real expertise to head that Ministry. A Trade Unionist as Defense Minister? An ex-General to head National Infrastructure? No problem. They lack the credibility to lead, so almost nothing gets done. All this results from Israel's party-mediated system of radical democracy. There's not a single person in leadership that is accountable to the citizenry. Israel's guiding principles seem to be: 1) Get into power; 2) Do anything to stay in power; 3) Get all you can while in power.
11. #2: :-))) #8: Curious
Soeren ,   Cologne/Germany   (04.15.08)
Sas, I'm just curious: Which ambassadors with low qualifications do you mean? Those appointed to Germany (Primor, Stein, and the newly appointed Ben-Zeev too, I guess) were always great. I always thought Livni is a great politician and should become next PM. After all, we in Germany have good experiences with a strong woman at the top of the government...
12. It balances out the US
Global Citizen ,   Israel & USA   (04.15.08)
where critical government posts are left unattended, throwing the needy into chaos. Of course, one need simply to visit a major US drug company to outdo the wasteful ways of the Israeli government. Either way, we all pay.
13. To Raymond #10. To Serve The State Of Israel Is A.
Maansingh ,   The Netherlands   (04.16.08)
READING the last sentence of your TB -- it doesn't bode well for Israel. Government Ministers should know that they have been appointed to that post in order to serve the State of Israel -- they are NOT appointed to serve themselves, OR their family, OR their friends, OR their constituents. That's why, before being appointed, they should know that their job as Government Minister is to benefit the State of Israel -- it is NOT for personal or family benefit. IT is a service to the State of Israel -- without personal benefit. IF someone likes to make money -- he/she should NOT become Government Minister ; he/she should get into business. WHEN someone is called to serve the State of Israel as a Government Minister -- he/she should make sure that he/she has NO business interest. To serve the State of Israel is a CALL of DUTY. BTW 24 Ministers is way too much ; the proposal by Gad Lior to have 14 Ministers only is reasonable.
14. if israel wants north american immigrants
duder   (04.16.08)
I love this article. THe most repulsive feature of israel, to me, is it's government. The waste, the corruption, the nepotism (Olmert's kids don't serve) and the bloated bureaucracy are real turn offs for anyone raised in north america. It'll change, i'm sure because it has to. But really, Israel's left is deeply in love with bloated government. If they have their way they'll drive the most competent in the "jewish world" to greener pastures. Seriously, who wants to live under a government that can't find a cent for holocaust survivors or to protect sderot, yet spends it's time boycotting german in the knesset, passing Hametz laws and producing levels of government that shouldn't exist, or passing cash onto Shas who are the religious prostitutes of the knesset utterly without any real values.. It's a circus.. It's a government that does all sorts of things it shouldn't be bothering with, yet ignores it's real responsibility to protect it's citizens.. what a mess. All it needs for the mess to be "complete" is another round of hyper inflation :D
15. quit your bitchin
Steve   (04.16.08)
While Israel is besieged with arguably one of the most corrupt and incompetent governments in the free world it is the after all the citizens who must bear the full responsibility for this abomination. Israel is still by most measures a democratic state.
16. the minister who's job needs to end is the prime minister
aaron ,   ra'anana   (04.16.08)
17. too many ministers
sad ,   israel   (04.17.08)
ohlmert should be the first to go.................he is good for nothing and has done nothing.
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