Are the Israeli middle class showing the western middle class the next steps forward?

[financeguy]

Throughout the summer the middle class of Israel have come together in their thousands to effectively demand that their government stop dipping into their pockets.

A protest involving up to 400,000 Israelis ( BBC News - Israelis hold renewed mass protests over living costs ) Israelis hold renewed mass protests over living costs) is evidence that this is a movement that is gathering pace.

Banners reading "An entire generation wants a future" in Israel certainly would not look out of place in the US and many European countries.

It seems to me that with the banking bailouts, much of the west has become a socialist paradise for the rich and the social welfare-funded underclass with the middle class paying for them - the consequences of which will eventually lead to the wiping out of the middle class in our countries.

So could there be 30 million on the streets of America, 6 million on the streets of Great Britain, and 400,000 on the streets of Ireland in a similar manner to Israel?

 

[Zoomerang96]

this is completely unfounded and based on nothing but a personal opinion, but i get the sense that people generally protest when it's too late.

 

[yolland]

The Israeli protests are a fascinating and important story but, no, I don't think they're likely to inspire comparable protests in 'the West.' For starters, at least here in the US, media coverage of them has been scant and vague--they simply don't fit the familiar media narratives about Israel, plus the protesters themselves have deliberately (albeit, arguably, self-defeatingly) avoided articulating clear analyses of why the Israeli middle class has become so squeezed and what specifically should be done about it, lest they alienate the right wing who are (correctly) nervous that any talk of major budget reforms might unflatteringly spotlight the enormous sums of money spent on enticing families and businesses to settlements in the occupied territories (subsidized loans, transportation, and education; special tax deductions; cheap land and development costs, etc.), as well as on supporting the 65% non-employment rate of haredi men living the 'professional student' lifestyle at yeshiva while fathering large families. These particular factors aren't directly analogous to the situation in Europe or the US and, at least at first glance, appear to suggest an Israel-specific response to Israel-specific problems, so move right along, nothing to see here. Also, at least on paper, Israel has enviably low unemployment and a growing economy; it's sky-high costs of living and in particular housing that are the main grievances here, which again looks at first glance like a relatively unique situation.

Above and beyond all that, on a cultural level I suspect Americans, Britons and possibly the Irish as well simply lack the necessary fellow-feeling to join hands in protest on such a scale.

 

[PhilsFan]

I think we should just take a moment and appreciate how intelligent and articulate Yolland is. On many days your posts are the most informed things I read.

For those familiar with my biting sarcasm, this post is totally sincere.

 

[yolland]

Thanks PFan...

 

[sarit]

I was wondering when someone would bring this up

Just my point of view:

The low unemployment rate is misleading – it's measured by how many people are entitled to unemployment benefits. However, the number of people who are past the entitlement period is much larger.

And even when you do have a job - there is an increasing number of families with both parents working who just can't make ends meet anymore.

The protest isn't just about the rent – it's about the entire rotten system. Young, skilled and educated people just don't see a future for themselves in this country anymore. And they do have alternatives, but many others don't. The insanely high cost of living compared to the much lower salaries we have than most western countries just drove people to the edge. It amazes me how non-violent the protest is. Food industry here is practically a cartel with ongoing unjustified rising prices, indirect taxes such as on fuel, imported vehicles (almost 100 %!) are very high and hurt the lower and middle class, privatization led to a serious deterioration in health system & education and the list just won't end.

Mostly, it's about the cynicism directed towards us. We feel like hostages in the hands of few – both the government and the super-rich. One of the prime-ministers' advisors said we should be thankful for living in a country that doesn't shoot us when we protest. What a prick. Even Stanley Fischer, the Governor of the Bank of Israel and a world renowned economist, was caught by surprise when people started demonstrating. I mean, when you look at the macro-economics of Israel we're doing just great! But to us it's the micro-economics that counts. You can say we're trying to hijack the country back.

I hope that even though the economic situation here is unique, people will relate to the spirit of things. We were a very much divided society up until two months ago, and things are far from perfect now, but in some miraculous way we've managed to unite. I hope that's what you can take from it.

 

[sarit]

and this was a popular remix recently (the masses in the background are shouting - "people demand social justice"):


BIBI - SHAKE SHAKE (NOY ALOOSHE REMIX) - YouTube