What about the surge in poverty as well ?

Articles like this are sure to spark responses about rich vs. poor, disparities, and the evils of today's more capitalist Israel. What such responses lack are not just historic ignorance but a recognition of how much better it is today for all. The socialist strictures of Israel's early decades hardly made for a social or economic paradise. Many newcomers with commercial skills that might have made for prosperity elsewhere were beggared. The currency was forever under stress, the country dependent on loans, reparations, and aid from Jews overseas. Yes, there was more equality as most were equally struggling. Some paradise. By 1970, a TV and a car however modest marked one as "prosperous". And ex-soldiers didn't head overseas; they went straight to work or, if they were fortunate, college. Yes, Israel is among the least equal of OECD countries, but back then the thought of belong to such a select group was pure fantasy. And much of today's poverty is culturally inspired (haredi males and Arab females who don't work, large families, etc.) or the struggles of immigrants with more challenges than most (e.g. Ethiopians). As in every country, there's always more work to do. The concentration of wealth in the 19 families needs to be addressed (crony capitalism introduces its own distortions) but so too the extortions of the "elite" working class (port workers, IEC). But only a fool thinks things were better in the old days.

liberates you to the point that you dont give a rats ass. You can tell your boss to piss off, be arrogant, rude and just a total pisshead. Hell, I just describe a whole lot of people out there and most of them havent got a pot to piss in. Point is you dont have to wealthy to be an asshole, you can be piss poor as well. Todays its Fete Nationale here in Quebecstan so 'Bon Fete to all and a good Shabbos.

the rich get richer, and the poor just become poorer, and need to pay more for food, which we can hardly afford already. thanks millionaires! you really put us up on the map among the "civilized" nations.

can make a difference in people s life. Nothing can make you more happy than be able to help people in need. Not simply by giving them money,but by giving them opportunities to have wellpayed jobs. THAT is the power of money!

the more the merrier!!!

Henry Ford II was interviewed at Lod airport in the late 1960's, he was asked,"how does it feel to be one of the richest men in the world". His answer was thus, "my family and I are very proud to be able to permit more than 250000 people world wide to reap the benefits of gainful employment". Socialism is a noble ideal, but it is one of the heart, whereas capitalism is one of the mind. Socialism cannot thrive or indeed exist without Capitalism, this was proven by the 70 year Soviet experiment. The more the rich get richer and industry and commerce expand, the better chances are that those at the bottom will rise to the middle and society as a whole shall benefit. Very rich people understand this and contribute to prosperity and expansion by supporting educational and health institutions for the benefit of society. The poor fail to understand this and are obsessed with jealousy. The industrial revolution which started over 150 years ago created a new stratum of rich instead of the old nobility, the difference is that the effects are prevalent to this day and have filtered down to the poor and in millions of cases it has helped better their life and that of society as a whole.

Wealth is not a remedy for lonelyness, "Veahavta at reeha kamoha"is.

Please send your charities this way. Thank you.

with the surge in real estate and weakness of the dollar. I wonder how it looks once you look at it in real terms and strip out housing...