The Objectivist state of Israel
The 21st century can be the Israeli century.
They say that Israel is going places.
Indeed, there are opportunities all over. It turns that the last failing wars Israel waged (Lebanon 2006, Gaza 2008) had done more harm to its enemies than to Israel itself; The global economic crisis lasts for over a year now; Europe is getting older and is expected to lose influence; Russia is virtually disappearing. All of these cases bring opportunities to the entire free world.
For Israel, it means an opportunity to get rid of the Palestinian Authority and fix a 17 years old problem; An opportunity to get rid of Hezbollah and fix a 28 years old problem; How about getting rid of Iran? This will bring the Middle East to where it was in 1916 (when France and Britain dissected the soon-to-fall Ottoman Empire and invented Muslim nationalism).
Israel has an opportunity to enjoy a chance of a life time and actually become a superpower. Not just military (although an Arab-less Middle East is a tempting option). Let’s take a look at a non-military example: the world is looking for a new stable currency. It’s hard to believe that there is a currency that can replace the Dollar. However, how about replacing the Euro? A decade from today, aging Europe will be run by Muslims. How long will this hold? How about providing the world with a solid currency that beats the Dollar for over a decade (for the Israeli reader: I purposely don’t take into account the 1990s and Commissioner Frankel).
An Arab-free Middle East; a currency that is second only to the Dollar.
It can’t be too bad.
But, who is this state of Israel that will soon be blessed with all that?
In the next articles I’m going to show that Israel has a very long way to walk before it deserve to pick such a prize. The problem of Israel is threefold:
- Compulsory military service that caused Israel to lose each and every war in the past four decades
- Enormous tax burden that drives Israeli talent and money out
- Compulsory educational system that generates and increasingly violent and dumb population
Now, freedom to the individual goes well with prosperity, purpose, happiness and success. It is not that the Israelis doesn’t know that. It’s that they chose otherwise and don’t know how to revert to the right values.
If Israel desires to make the 21st century the Israeli century, it has a long way to walk and it’s about time to make the first step.
In the next articles:
- How to eliminate the military service?
- How to eliminate government-owned education?
- How to get rid of taxes?
- Other Objectivist values to keep in mind
אין שום סיכוי.
קטנה מדי מבחינת אוכ’ ושטח, מיליטריזם מובנה, שכנים לא טובים בעיני, תרבות עסקית של פחחים, אין משאבים טבעיים ומעורבות גסה של הדת בחוק. קפיטליזם יכול לעשות ניסים ונפלאות אבל הוא לא משנה תרבות כל כך מהר ולא הופך אוכ’ של שישה מליון לאוכ’ של שישים מליון. הכלכלה הופכת לדינאמית בקצב מסחרר בקורולציה ברורה עם התקדמות הטכנולוגיה, זה מסך עשן די רציני עבור כל מדיניות מוניטרית והפוליטיקה מתרחקת באופן טבעי (בכל העולם, בישראל זו דוגמה מאוד מיוחדת) מאידאולוגיה כזו או אחרת באופן מעשי. באירופה כנראה שהימין הקיצוני אמור להרים את הראש בשנים הקרובות, גם במדינות שהן מופת לסובלנות כמו שוודיה ודנמרק קיימות מפלגות מחרידות מבחינת מצע. התשלום על תמימות ורלטביזם נגבה בריבית קצוצה…
*אגב – אני מוחה על הסמנטיקה של הarab-free מסיבות ברורות.
@serve
גם שישה מיליון זה יותר מדי. היום, בניגוד למאה התשע-עשרה, אתה לא חייב להיות מדינה גדולה כדי להיות מדינה חזקה. לדוגמא, מי שמגדל את האוכל שאתה אוכל זה טרקטור, לא פועל.
Avi:
Have you read The Israel Test yet? If you have, I’d love to hear your thoughts on it.
One point it makes, with regards to education in Israel, is that although on average students score less well than Asians in science and mathematics, the economic system is such that those few who do excel are free enough to get venture capital, create wealth, and keep (to some extent) the profits.
As with America, what others expect from looking at the average scores in any area is proven wrong time and again–because the best, when left free, are the ones that go on to creatively discover or apply new knowledge. The wealth of nations is determined in other words, not by the averages, but by the achievers.
The above point is not meant to counter an argument for the elimination of government schools (which I think should be abolished systematically for moral and practical reasons), but is only posited to stress the importance of objective laws and individual rights too. In explaining this one part of education it also might allow one to see a rational basis for hope, which the numbers on average often don’t show.
One point your post made is that an “enormous tax burden” in Israel drives money and talent out. This was definitely true decades ago, and to the extent that anywhere is freer, it will be just that much of a problem today. But hasn’t Israel gotten a lot better in this regard? And, with the direction America is going, isn’t there just cause to forecast less talent and money leaving Israel for America’s shores?
Cheers,
@Daniel
Hi Daniel,
The first and most important objection to mandatory government-ruled education is that it is immoral to force someone to pay for my child’s tuition. This objection is sufficient for abolishing the ministr of education. However, there are several more objections, which I intend to preset broadly in future posts:
1. The state-governed education system produces violent, tupid and ignorant mob. It is very compeling to focus on the magnificent few kids, but can’t forget that the mob is going to live of welfare for life, vote to the Knesset, and reproduce, all in our expense.
2. The state takes not only my money, but my time. It’s enjoyable and productive to teach a kid some math in an occassional afternoon. It is far more productive to do it at 8AM, when his mind is fresh. You cant do this if you are forced to send your child to school.
3. From time to time the ministry of education forces a stupid curriculum on the child. Then, as a parent, you have to clear your child’s mind before providing the proper education. For examle, for over a decade, Israeli kid were taught that reading ad math are mistical misteries and it is perfectly OK not to rule them.
As for the tax burden: Not only that it is not trivial to start a business in Israel, the government simply prefers that you won’t start one. (Israel s not different from the rest of the western world here, but I can testify that it is most unpleasant to ave a policeman at your door because of a NIS200 (some $50) tax debt….).
אוקיי. המחשב שלי החליט לתפקד ולהתפקד. היאח לו.
אני חולקת עליך, כרגיל, אבל בזה אין שום חדש. רק נקודה אחת: לאומיות ערבית היא לא בהכרח לאומיות איסלאמית. למעשה, ההתאגדות תחת דגל הלאומיות האיסלאמית היא (למיטב זיכרוני) פרי 20-30 השנים האחרונות. התגובה לתכנית חלוקת המזה”ת בין הבריטים והצרפתים ובעיקר להתיישבות היהודית בא”י הושפעה, כמו הציונות, מתנועות שונות לתחיה לאומית (שעלו כפורחות במאה ה-19), והייתה לאומית-ערבית באופיה.
@תגית
מה שהצרפתים והבריטים חיפשו זה איך למצוא קבלן-משנה למזרח התיכון.
הערבים – או מוסלמים – מעולם לא היו ישות פוליטית עצמאית בעלת ערך כלשהו.
תפקיד ההסטורי תם.
it is a somewhat far-fetched vision, in my opinion. the tax burden is not likely to become significantly lighter on exactly those citizens who contribute most to both the economy and the military. the compulsory military service is a non-negoiable “sacred cow”, as we all fear mercenaries. the world powers tend to turn a blind eye to the raising muslim power. so what can be done in reality?
good luck with this site!
leah