Everybody would wanna move to Texas!

[scandal 951]

In foreign affairs, we could initiate a new world body of Free and Democratic Countries United (FDCU). Countries that endorse freedom, democracy and free enterprise could join. Initial countries might include Ireland, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Switzerland, Poland, and Texas. If the old United States later returns to the principles of freedom and free enterprise, they might be considered eligible for admittance.

I won't speak for the countries on that list other than Israel, since I have no first hand experience.

My experience in Israel consists of having lived there for approximately a dozen years at different stages of my life, gone to school there, earned my Masters there, married & divorced there, worked there for ~6 years in the private sector, bought and sold real estate there, and dealt with "the system".

I've also lived and worked and studied for many years in the US, and am currently a resident of Illinois. I've bought and sold real estate in the US (CA and IL), and dealt with "the system".

* My combined state+federal taxes are significantly lower in Illinois/US than they were in Israel.

* Mandatory payroll deductions are lower in the US than in Israel.

* Governmental bureaucracy and red tape are significantly worse in Israel than here for routine transactions like home purchases.

In short, if you want to align your independent Nation of the Alamo with similar minded bastions of free enterprise, which I'm guessing you associate with small government, low taxes, and a climate that encourages entrepeneurship, I rather doubt you want Israel on that list.

What I would say about Israel's healthy business climate is that its VC (Venture Capital) community and hi tech sector in the Netanya-Herziliya corridor are world leading and probably behind only Silicon Valley (California) and Route 128 (Massachusetts). So... perhaps rather than everyone moving to Texas, we should all be making our way to the liberal coastal blue states of CA and MA. (I did live in the Bay area for about 5 years... lovely bit of the country).

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

uscandual you sound like another one of them libruls i keep hearing about.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Israel has high taxes? Get a rope!

[scandal 951]

uscandual you sound like another one of them libruls i keep hearing about.

Librul and proud

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Israel has high taxes? Get a rope!

down, adolf.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

uscandual you sound like another one of them libruls i keep hearing about.

Librul and proud

Watch where you tread here...this place is a mine field of Right Wing maniacs.

Edited May 1, 2009 by Col. 'Bat' Guano

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

uscandual you sound like another one of them libruls i keep hearing about.

Librul and proud

Watch where you tread here...this place is a mine field of Right Wing maniacs.

Really? I had no idea.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

uscandual you sound like another one of them libruls i keep hearing about.

Librul and proud

Watch where you tread here...this place is a mine field of Right Wing maniacs.

Really? I had no idea.

I've been to the depths and back...I'm lucky to still be alive.

[scandal 951]

uscandual you sound like another one of them libruls i keep hearing about.

Librul and proud

Watch where you tread here...this place is a mine field of Right Wing maniacs.

yeah i kinda figured that out by now..... but thanks for the warning

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Watch where you tread here...this place is a mine field of Right Wing maniacs.

Really? I had no idea.

I've been to the depths and back...I'm lucky to still be alive.

Oh please. You eat right wing maniacs for breakfast.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Watch where you tread here...this place is a mine field of Right Wing maniacs.

Really? I had no idea.

I've been to the depths and back...I'm lucky to still be alive.

Oh please. You eat right wing maniacs for breakfast.

Sometimes the indigestion feels like I'm having a heart attack.