New Realities

After such a rousing success at "defending" our aliyah decision, I got into a "conversation" with a friend of mine about the realities on the ground in both countries.

A new study (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nearly-half-american-families-live-173320316.html) shows that half the households in the United States are savingsless. Meaning, they live month to month. And that is including their debt servicing, which only rises. The cost of living increases every month, and the earning power of the common man erodes between unemployment, stagnation, and inflation. All of which are rising fast. And now healthcare is skyrocketing. And rentals are flying out of control, too.

The outlook for a good life isn't getting any better, either. As the country spirals into a vortex of partisan politics based on platitudes that do not reflect the reality of the national situation, overspending, and more "us and them" class warfare, the chances of making do continue to decrease. I am employed full time, and my wife is employed part time, and our bills definitely outweigh our income. Forget savings, forget luxuries, forget all of that. Simple living. Staying above water. Not happening.

Then there is the growing problem of education (which touches on the economic as well, as tuition costs are beyond what we can afford, for sure). The schools in the US are increasingly polemic, with every school trying to be "elite" and moving the boundaries of "normal" and "acceptable" further and further. In both directions - "right" or "left". The community at large sticks its head in the sand about any major issue that threatens it, be it molestation, teens at risk, money woes, or you name it.

"But they're the same way in Israel!" you exclaim. True. But, there's one benefit to living there - reality asserts itself in Israel. The peace process? Dead. Charedim shall never work, or go to school? Dead. Look at Kiryat Ono or any other program. People are moving to the right or left? There is a burgeoning "dati leumi" community content to be pragmatic and balanced. As things develop, HKB"H makes it balance out. In the US, He does not intervene - He doesn't need to.

That alone is worth the move.