Domestic unrest can be heard, addressed

November 1, 2011 8:09 AM

In this nation, capitalism helped but a small group and corporations. A more equitable distribution was demanded by the majority . Their demands are being met. In Israel, there had been a growing disconnect between the few who had so much and the many who were unable to pay rents, live decently, buy food. This led to occupying central spots and setting up tent cities to protest, similar to what is taking place in the United States. The government got the message. Improvements are planned to correct social disparities. Note that like our nation, they too spend a huge amount for defense. Yet there is a recognition that domestic needs are central or there is nothing worthwhile to defend except those at the very top.
posted by Postroad (19 comments total)

Also like us, their massive defense spending is made possible by another country's money.
posted by Trurl at 8:16 AM on November 1, 2011 [6 favorites]

I'm starting to feel like there is a place for a world-wide party dedicated to economic redistribution.
posted by empath at 8:23 AM on November 1, 2011 [13 favorites]

So France is engaging in jingoistic authoritarianism and Israel is going socialist.

This should confuse Rush Limbaugh.
posted by shakespeherian at 8:24 AM on November 1, 2011 [8 favorites]

Its easy to go socialist on the backs of the American taxpayer.
posted by Ironmouth at 8:27 AM on November 1, 2011 [3 favorites]

The US does give Israel a lot of money, but they do actually have a fairly sizable tax base, as well. I think we provide about 4 or 5% of their budget?
posted by empath at 8:30 AM on November 1, 2011

Is there any community in the world today MORE socialist than a kibbutz? Or don't they have kibbutzes anymore? (It's been a long time since I've paid attention to that element of Israeli society.)
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:35 AM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

Its easy to go socialist on the backs of the American taxpayer.

You think so? Just try it. See you on Fox News when they shoot you as a traitor to humanity.
posted by DU at 8:45 AM on November 1, 2011

Israel recently voted to cut its own defense budget by 5% over the next 2 years and to raise corporate taxes and taxes on people making the equivalent of $130k/year. Meanwhile, we give Israel $3 billion a year toward its defense budget -- which represents 18% of its total annual defense budget.
posted by blucevalo at 8:48 AM on November 1, 2011 [3 favorites]

Israel is going socialist

Is going? Israel has had an active socialist movement for decades now. It waxes and wanes, for sure, but it's pretty much always been there.
posted by deadmessenger at 8:53 AM on November 1, 2011 [2 favorites]

Oh wait, you thought he meant THAT oppressed domestic underclass?! Oh, haha no, no.

Lack of occupation has never been Israel's problem.
posted by fartron at 9:10 AM on November 1, 2011 [9 favorites]

Improvements are planned to correct social disparities.

If this is true, Israel is better than most countries...including Metafilter's own United States.
posted by hal_c_on at 9:31 AM on November 1, 2011

Metafilter's own United States

I am pretty sure that user got the banhammer for being offensive and belligerent.
posted by srboisvert at 11:42 AM on November 1, 2011 [5 favorites]

Its easy to go socialist on the backs of the American taxpayer.

Kinky. Is that what happens when the state is in the bedrooms of the nation?
posted by Stagger Lee at 1:42 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

Kinky. Is that what happens when the state is in the bedrooms of the nation?

No that was banning sodomy.
posted by Talez at 2:24 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

I worked for a tech firm in the early aughts that joined forces with an Israeli firm. When the whole thing went kablooey (tech crash) 18 months later, the US owners were forced to pony up one month's salary as required severance for the Israeli employees, no matter how short their previous tenure with the company had been. The US employees, of course, got bupkis.

Whenever I see these yahoos demonstrating for Israel, I just wanna ask them, "do you know you're cheering for a SOCIALIST country?" Which, of course, being totally bible-addled, they know nothing about.
posted by telstar at 2:34 PM on November 1, 2011

It is funny how the bar for socialism has been lowered to severance pay.

I give it 5 more years before a lunch break is considered socialist.
posted by srboisvert at 4:08 PM on November 1, 2011 [12 favorites]

Unmetered breathing? You dirty commie!
posted by Abiezer at 8:33 PM on November 1, 2011 [1 favorite]

The kibbutzim still exist, but there are fewer of them, and many of them have become rather less socialist. Reasons for the decline vary depending on who you're asking, I'm sure I saw an article about this recently?
posted by vasi at 2:25 AM on November 2, 2011

It is funny how the bar for socialism has been lowered to severance pay.


I recently caught myself longing for a big-government, nationalist conservative government that would feed the poor and crush dissenters under the iron boot of justice. I mean, at least we'd be fed.
posted by Stagger Lee at 8:06 AM on November 2, 2011