Business
Riki Cohen to Lapid: I've never been abroad
Ynet reporters
Published: 02.04.13, 10:01
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25 Talkbacks for this article
1. 20.000 shekels?
Miron ,   Israel   (04.02.13)
Lapid is talking rubbish! Those who make 20.000 shekels a month are the lucky ones! Most of the poor middle class people make 4 to 6 thousand a month. He lost contact with reality probably because his Ministry employees make much more than 20.000 a month and he believes this is the average salary.
2. answer
mif987 ,   Haifa, Israel   (04.02.13)
You did read that it's average for a FAMILY not for one person? He didn't lose contact with reality, if he's using that as an example it's obvious that the ones that earn less will also be helped.
3. How about going after the contractors
jason white ,   afula,israel   (04.02.13)
that steal from their workers? No overtime pay, no religious holiday pay, no annual vacation pay,, no beit avrah,paying for our courses every three years, paying for uniforms and not giving enough money for transportation. Not to mention work hours stolen from our pay. Where the hell is lapid's ministry workers? There are those of us that do not earn enough money to pay income tax. Why don't they go after the contractors of security and cleaners? Why? I would not mind paying extra in taxes if I received the correct salary for 6 or 7 day work weeks. I do mind paying for the owners to go skiing in europe or to Las Vegas casinos.
4. Nis 20,000 per month and called middle class?
Jew1 ,   Ashdod   (04.02.13)
What is he talking about? Does he has an idea what is middle class? I voted for Lapid and generally I believe that he means to do good but please do some ground research before talking. I am single mother with 2 kids and earn less than 7 thousand a month. I live with what I get without getting in debit. I don't go to week-end holidays and do not enter hotels for food. Travel by public transport and do not waste any penny without need (I mean I buy what I need and not what I want). Still difficult to live. I wish he does something with electricity + water charges. They have already reached the sky. Help us with medicine amounts, school fees, bus fairs, food charges, etc. In reality, we are called middle class bordering with our neighbour called poor sector. nis 20,000 is called upper middle-class.
5. Choosing NOT to understand
PaulZion ,   Israel   (04.02.13)
Lapid's point is as relevant to those earning much less than his example. His point is to change the perspective of the Finance Ministry, to humanize the issue, and not to look at everything through the eyes of statistical analyses and spread sheets. That is relevant to EVERYONE. It is part of micro-economics, as opposed to macro-economics. Do people really not get that? Are they really so hung up on the specifics that they don't see the point? I didn't vote for Lapid, but I laud his efforts to change the way of thinknig in the Finance Ministry.
6. Me thinks you've been had, my Israeli brethren
Daniel   (04.02.13)
Your vote was for life or for death. You chose cottage cheese. I have a feeling you've got the government you deserve. Let is hope that during the next elections only fictitious "Riki Cohens" vote for this clown and he goes away like a bad nightmare.
7. All my problems would be solved...
Eli ,   Raanana   (04.02.13)
if my wife's and my salaries totaled NIS 20 000... What is he talking about?
8. I earns ₪ 5500 in a month
Michael ,   Israel   (04.02.13)
I works days and night and I earns only ₪5500 my wife earns 4000 monthly. I have 3 children. ₪20000 to earns in month is only in my dream. Lapid what are u talking about.
9. Around the world the problem is the same
jrebecca ,   modiin   (04.02.13)
We can no longer afford to help our children get started to buy a home. That does not detract from the "out of touch" comments from Lapid. Any family that's earning 20,000 a month should have put away plenty for their kids.
10. 21st Century Fox ! 21st Century Genius
Abdel Karim Salim ,   Jerusalem   (04.02.13)
It looks like he is going to rival Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes...
11. Just the Facts, People
yOSSI ,   iSRAEL   (04.02.13)
The professional staff at the CBS and the Treasury must wonder why and how Bibi would impose upon them a boss who is ignorant of the facts and has no background in the economics of government. In the end it is the citizens who will suffer.
12. Lapid a;long with Netanyagu are vapid empy shells
Al   (04.02.13)
who are all about themselves and nothing else. As I have said many many times. your leaders reflect you. You voted for this trash now you will have to suffer from them. The people of Israel have always been shortchanged by their leadership.
13. Skewed thinking
Geepee ,   Tel Aviv   (04.02.13)
The point is missed entirely. It isn't the parents' responsibility to buy their children homes. The conditions need to exist for them to be able to buy their own, but that is now a pipe dream for average earners, who are not earning 20000 a month, or even 10000 a month. They are getting 5000-6000 and can't buy an extra aspirin let alone a 1.7 million apartment.
14. Stop crying
Israeli taxpayer   (04.02.13)
Those of you who make 5K/month don't pay any income tax. It's people like me who make close to 20K/month who subsidize you, and frankly I could use some relief.
15. Lapid confuses reality with his personal dream
Larry ,   Los Angeles   (04.02.13)
It is a problem with Lapid and his party. They never investigate their claims assuming that their claims ARE reality. Remember, Mr. Lapid, assume is a word that is composed of 3 sub words: 'ass' 'u' and 'me' meaning that when you assume you make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'me'. Better investigate what is the real situation before you broadcast your assumptions.
16. IS FACEBOOK THE APPROPRIATE MEDIA
Joe ,   Israel   (04.02.13)
TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF THE TREASURY IN FACEBOOK IS LUDICROUS, IF NOT DANGEROUS. WERE THE MINISTER OF DEFENSE TO FOLLOW LAPID RESIGNATIONS WOULD FOLLOW.
17. Simcha Erlich # 2
Abdel Karim Salim ,   Jerusalem   (04.02.13)
Remember minister Simcha Erlich of 1979 (Menachim Begin ) when the government changed the currency from Lira to Shekel ? He was a total disappointment and ultimately had to resign...
18. 20000???
Yitz ,   Jerusalem   (04.02.13)
I earn 8 and my wife working part time another 2 and change...and without extras like going out or taking a local trip we barely make it through the month. You can forget about buying anything major or paying off debt. 20000 a month would be amazing I could clear the credit cards and afford to pay my own way to visit my family in the states instead of asking them to buy us tickets. What rock is Lapid and his crew living under, please help the people making 20 grand a month and continue to screw the people making 10 or even less.
19. #14 You try living on 5000
Betti ,   Jerusalem   (04.02.13)
I'm a single mom trying to live on 5000 a month. I pay half of that in rent. Maybe if employers would pay a living wage we would all be better off
20. Lapid hit bottom and kept digging
2Mad ,   גולה בצרפת   (04.03.13)
so he found a hot gas - but still not enough to light a bulb.
21. Single mothers and more!!
Dr. Jack ,   Canada   (04.03.13)
I keep reading, and not only here but in the American/Canadian press, about "single mothers" with two-three children fighting to survive. I have a lot of respect for them, but where are the fathers?? How many husbands abandon their children, and how come they don't offer support?? Like being a single mother is the normal thing in life! I might be old fashioned, but having children with the first, or the second guy coming by, and going separate ways afterwards, should not be the norm. I love children, but why should others, including the state, support those who think that having children is a game and one goes away, after the fun is over?? Where are the relatives, the parents, the rabbis, where are the moral standards?? I don't preach empty morality, but a bit of self-respect, and respect for the others, would be highly recommended!!
22. #21
(04.03.13)
Many women choose to be single mothers because it is easier than building a relationship, they get sympathy and, most importantly, handouts. It is the parasite culture where the lazy and selfish take advantage of a system that was originally made to help the truly deserving.
23. of course
Gaby ,   Modiin   (04.03.13)
If you were married your husband probably would earn something like 11000 shekels and you would be the classic Riki Cohen. He is talking about TWO PEOPLE SALARY!
24. Single mother and proud!!
Betti ,   Jerusalem   (04.03.13)
I am sick to death of the people vilifying single mothers.Not every single mother is a welfare mother and not everyone has extended family to depend on, # 23 hit the nail on the head, "If you were married your husband probably would earn something like 11000 shekels..." This is exactly my point, a living wage. Why is "women's work" so grossly underpaid? We need to be concerned with wage equity not scape goating single mothers.
25. 24.
Birdi ,   Israel   (04.05.13)
Way to go Betti. You can be proud of yourself. Kudos to you.
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