that every segment of the population works to its maximum potential. The way to get there is to reduce entitlement payments and to open quality general education to anyone who wants it. The Hassidic population contrary to popular opinion can achieve great heights in the sciences and technology. They have been taugh to think and it would be a shame should they not take advantage of that capability. English, Math and Sciences are the keys to achieve success in the new export markets. India and China are the new markets (huge young middle class populations). America save for their ability to invent nothing has become a has been nation. Its time to look east to the eastern markets. Again the key is to reduce entilements..if you are not aged, bed ridden or infirmed..there is no need for public assistance

As an active supporter of the Technion, I was at an event recently at the Israeli embassy. The speaker pointed out that Israel's *software* exports alone are running over ten times its citrus exports. Al (#1), I agree with you *almost* 100%. Entitlements are too high and create a culture of dependency. Israel has the lowest rate of economic participation of any developed nation (too many Arab and Haredi males don't work) and the highest income disparities. Al writes "America save for their ability to invent nothing has become a has been nation." America *does* continue to innovate. But no sooner does it create a new wiz-bang technology before it's off to Asia to find someone to make it. (cf. the new iPad)

On the last days of Passover I decided to take a breather from Quebecstan and so I headed to the USA. I spend some time in NYC and then I took a trip to Atlantic city to partake in some gambling. On the way I stopped at a gas station where I ran into an old Jew who was on the ship Exodus. I spoke to him in Yiddish and he was happy as peach. I made his day..Indeed I made his month. I asked him the question'Whats happening with American Jews that they voted in an Obama ausvorf'? He answered in Yiddish ..They the Jews in America have stopped thinking as Jews and being Jews. I am telling this story for as a nation treats its Jews so the fortunes of that nation turn. If the Jews in America were real Jews and wouldnt hide in the shadows, Obama would never have been president. He is turning against the Jews and Israel because he can and so America will become a has been nation. America invents nothing but made up junk bonds and other nothings. It is on a slow decline to third world status. The days of the American goldeneh medina is ending with a bang. Israel with a highly educated population is primed to become the new centre of research and development. Time will tell, but rest assured that Israel will become a very wealth nation way before America becomes America again. America has lost its industrial base. Its schools are into social egineering rather than educating its young. That is a receipe for poverty. It doesnt take a genius to move a box from A to B, but it takes smart people to design, manufacture and market a product.

AL, JUST THIS WEEK I READ THAT THE "TZAR MINISTER OF EDUCATION, AN OBAMA APPOINTEE IS BEGINNING TO PLANT THE FUTURE EDUCATION SEENS AND THE "NEED TO RE EVALUATE THE EFICACY OF EDUCATION AND ITS QUALITY IN THE USA" guess what he suggested and intends to do...talk about engineering the future generation rather than educating them... here goes: he claims that the old fashioned classroom and its routine is passe. it should be entirely discarded. instead we should strive for schools where, GET THIS!!!! students will create their own curriculum based on their own interests. there will be no tests, no text books, no need for grades and homework. every and each student will be coupled with another to create his own academic program as suits his interests. no one will have to deal with the pressure that comes from homework, incessant reading and testing. AMAZING! IF IT WASN'T SO SAD, I WILL HAVE TO LAUGH MY HEAD OFF. AND THIS IS A HARVARD EDUCATED HARVARD PROFESSOR. WHAT HAS AMERICA COME TO REALLY. it is frightening who leads this country now as never before. a concerned american jew

I remember in "good old days" the soviet propaganda would boast about their achievments in production. They would go: we're now producing million times the number of cars as compared before the Great revolution... ( nevermind they would not produce a car before the revolution) and so on and so on. The israeli exports should not be compared to those of 1948.

sun dont shine