Opinion
The ‘simple folk’ won
Itzik Shmuly
Published: 16.10.11, 18:26
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21 Talkbacks for this article
1. Israel's economy
ghj ,   Passaic, USA   (10.16.11)
And when these young idiots ruin Israel's economy, they will be the 1st ones to pack up and move to the US.
2. This is a ''student''? Of what may I ask? Oh God,mercy!
tom ,   tel aviv   (10.16.11)
3. Reality
Abraham Nachmias ,   Petach Tikva IL   (10.16.11)
Maybe you should read again the news papers. The arab spring is a big lie and the other movements that started in Spain died because of lack of guidance, here in Israel, you know better than me that nobody really pays attention to you and even less to the high class "revolutionaries" of Rotshild Street. Go back to study, it will be much better for you!
4. Ah,yes.I remember now.
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (10.16.11)
I was also that young and stupid once. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
5. Hey we should remind ......
TruthMonger   (10.16.11)
People that there is this little democratic thing called ELECTIONS you know if you don't vote you shouldn't complain
6. They're a tiny far left minority & they haven't won anything
Chaim ,   Israel   (10.16.11)
The author lives in an alternate university. His "silent majority" is a very tiny far left, noisy minority. Most of their demands may as well come from Chairman Mao's Communist Red Book. Their numbers are far from impressive. In the U.S., tea party members are many times more numerous. Nor have they won anything. The vast majority rightly see them as losers, whether in America, Israel or elsewhere.
7. #4
Jarda ,   Czech Republic   (10.16.11)
Does it mean that you are not young ?
8. If I thought that his tackback was stupid..
Amir ,   Netanya, Israel   (10.16.11)
so this one is under-human intellegence...
9. Same S--t. Different Day
Gideon Reader ,   USA   (10.16.11)
New People? Fight for right? A "social justice" inspired and reenergized rabble? A fight for right?Gimme a break Shmulik! Nah. Just the same old bunch of unwashed, lazy MoFo's demanding either an undefined something or other; or preferably the fruits of anothers labor sans that nasty work induced perspiration. The next generation of gulible socialists demanding under pain of body odor, gifts from the government paid for by the government. NOTE" the government really does not make anything (except for bad decisions and underhanded deals) and has no money of it's own. What monies it does have, are taken under force from those who pay taxes. Same old Socialist, National Socialist Bolshevik garBARGE. This time with iPODS and fancy schmancy computer junk instead of BoomBoxes.
10. #7
Linichka ,   Gdynia, Poland   (10.16.11)
No, it means that he is not stupid.
11. My only hope is that all these demonstrations in
leo ,   usa   (10.17.11)
Europe, Israel and US are just liberal swan song. We got way too many young idiots who think they were born to be entitled. Life is cruel and it will make them pay dearly and probably to the very end. So sad.
12. Shmuly, could you name three real changes
Eli ,   Tel AViv   (10.17.11)
you consider as victory? The vague idea of "change in perception" of whom? how long? what is the consequence? does not count. With such victories we need no defeats.
13. about time
morris ,   jerusalem   (10.17.11)
its about time the poor did something about their living conditions the rich are getting richer off their backs its about time the people rise and demand more money from the pie. People have to remember we have the power if we stop producing for a bit we hit the rich where it hurts in their pockets
14. The Simple Folk
Ed Codish ,   Pardessiya, Israel   (10.17.11)
The comments are interesting and I shall write an article about them. It seems that the people responding, overwhelmingly negatively, either associate themselves with the wealthy and have no need for what the "simple folk" want, or have so thoroughly given up hope that they are sure that hope is pointless, at least for them. Then, they decorate their despair with labels - leftist, communist, rabble, gullible socialists, etc., all terms used without referents. But the fury in these responses is real. It's a shame it can't be used productively. Weirdly, these responses are like those of a starving person cursing at people trying to bring him food. Ed Codish Pardessiya
15. was this article written by Gideon Levy
zionist forever   (10.17.11)
It sounds just like the sort of nonsense you would get from him. The so called simple folk in Israel had got their way right now there would be a red flag flying over the Knesset and we would all be calling each other comrade. The fact is the simple folk got some concessions out of the government but nothing to drastic. The political system will not change, the economy will continue to be run the way it currently is and the government will not borrow billions in order to finance every single demand these protestors made. It was a compromise. In New York and London there is less than 1% of the population out there demanding change, they do not represent anybody but themselves. The reason their governments are adopting these unpopular policies is because their countries ran up huge debts and the majority accept these debts must be repaid. The US has a $15 trllion debt and the Republicans & Tea Party won the last election because they promised to cut the debt. All presidential candidates are taking about how they will cut the debt. At the last election in the UK the three candidates from the different parties held a tv debate and they were all competing for who would cut the most debt. Greece if its social justice we are talking about should the government of Greece not make cutbacks like the protestors demand or should they say its unfair to force German taxpayers to get less so their government can bail out Greece which will not make any concessions in exchange? As for the arab spring that was a total failure, the world expected to much and the arabs didn't deliver.
16. #10Linichka
Ian ,   Newcastle upon Tyne   (10.17.11)
Thank you. THREE CHEERS FOR ISRAEL!!!
17. Students
Madeleine ,   Rehovot Israel   (10.17.11)
Aren't the students going back to university in a week or two? then maybe we'll have some peace and quiet. Let them demonstrate on campus. I'm even sick of their stupid slogan. Seems that they want a helluva lot for nothing or almost nothing.
18. 17
zionist forever   (10.18.11)
I believe the Students Union are talking about striking and delaying the start of the academic year. Pathetic that a handful of individuals who run the Student Union who have latched onto these social justice protest have decided Trajtenberg didn't go far enough. This whole protest did not start an issue about students but now everybody is taking advantage and striking because they want more and don't consider whose lives they disrupt for it.
19. The article sheds light on the darkness and overcome we must
(10.18.11)
20. Stupid Students
Netanya ,   Netanya   (10.18.11)
While so many who are not students cannot afford housing and normal basic needs, these students have tried to put in so many other demands, that we, the people, are left with nothing. Thanks Dafne and Itzik for NOTHING but a lost cause in the end. Rather than anything at all getting accomplished, Dafna choose her own personal agenda, like the writer of this article. Most Israelis are not students, but have been working for nothing, except making our bills. These stupid students should stop with all the off-topic demands which are hurting the cause, which should be affordable housing. The millions of marchers wanted housing,not the million other things which the spoiled students want. A deal was put on the table, and it dealt with housing! We need to push the students to the side, we are the majority, not them. They may have started it, since they didn't need to take a shower and go to work daily and have more time than working Israelis with families, but in reality, it is the working people who suffer and have been suffering financially for a long time already.
21. No, The Folks Are Simple
Dan ,   USA   (10.20.11)
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