Get it straight! Money is just one of the causes of social decline. It's about time all the media start influencing people to refine their behavior and respect the tenets of the past. There is an ideology problem. Why does this country exist? Why do we fight so fervently for its existence? Why have so many people left the country of their birth to come here? Has the curriculum of the educational system brought about loyalty to the country? Does it teach children to internalize the country's history and its reason for existence? Does the curriculum entail educational experiences from which children can gain self-esteem, self-respect, as well as respect for others. From where does the value system enter the picture? What gives the value system validity? Where is respect taught for elders and teachers? Will money stop the youth from attacking a female police officer? Will money guarantee the cessation of corruption? The social decline problem has just more than the lack of money as a sole cause. Thinkers should begin thinking constructively about how to improve the social circumstance in which we all live. All problems and all their aspects will not be solved by money alone.

This is typical statist drivel. What this author doesn't understand is that economic centralization is the reason for inequalities, and a fraudulent monetary system that penalizes savings and thrift. What is the point for an Israeli to save money, when the purchasing power of the shekel is being steadily destroyed and death taxes?

- not policy. The fact is that israel has became more religious, more extrimist during the last decade. One of every 3 new babies is a Haredi; the second is an Arab. most of them will be living in poverty. Not because of the goverment or the rich people, but due to their own ideology. This is the one and only reason for the increase in "starving children" and the only way to stop it is by stopping those people from bringing 10 children per family. Indeed, social walfare must be maintained - partly by the goverment - but the way to have a strong and healthy economy is by large sector of educational, civilized middle-class hard working people. With so many fanatics, from both sides, who are only growing in numbers - a better future for israel's economy is nothing but a pipe dream. Y-net, please publish. This is NOT a racism. I have nothing against arabs or Haredim and I believe the goverment must help them, especially the arabs (who are willing, comparing to the Haredim, to accept the help). But the help must be done, sometimes, against one's will.

Cut government spending, cut child support, remove excessive govt interference in business, reduce the public sector, and allow more competition in the economy by encouraging foreign firms, like banks & even supermarkets, to open branches in Israel. Oh, & stop paying Arab MK's in the Knesset. Let Hamas pay them.

I don't understand why people are against the heredin for having large families, when the rest of Israel is claiming it has a 'low' birth rate???

Singles parents are badly neglected in this country. For a single mom to get some small amount from bituach leumi she has to endure a series of "conditions" that what they are telling them in other words is : quit and forget of any help. On the other hand some families get unemployment for years on end just because they have this " i wont work" mentality. in my opinion it should be alloted for a maximum period of 3 years , period. Unless *really* needed

I agreew th everything you said. There is no quick fix to this problem and it is quite obvious that there is a decline in the society as a whole. Financial and economic decline do have an impat on social decline in the quantitative sense but it is also the qualitative that has been completely ignored to your point for a very long time. I think people that think like you should be vocal and be orgnized for the better of the country. Part of me wants to move to Israel (my country of birth) just to try and make a difference.

Al Mann - You do not know that the truth hurts in this country. Education starts at home. Adult and youth violence, Ministerial corruption, rape, theft are the norm here in Israel, or so it seems. The people that get off lightly are those in power or their lawyers. They don't have to try and pull the wool over our eys " what for it's the norm ". Who pays for it . the ordinary man in the street who is breaking his back trying to earn a living, possibly at more than one place of employment. If he does this he is generally over taxed for his pains.

It is appropriate for Israel or any country to tighten the belt when a crisis occurs. The problem with a country like the USA that does not tighten its belt when needed it multi-trillion dollar debt. I find it interesting that we have a culture willing to point fingers at a nation that is simply being practical.