Economics 101

In response to a housing bubble and a slower economy, talk of inflation and recession is getting louder and louder. Due to these economic developments the Federal Reserve Bank (The Fed) has decided to cut interest rates in order to stimulate our economy. But what does all of this involve?

When Government run low on money to finance their social programs one of the ways they get money is to get it from The Fed. When Banks, Corporations or the Government need more money in their reserves, these entities issues securities (e.g. Treasury Bonds) to the Fed in exchange for more cash. These bonds accumulate interest. These interest rates are determined using very complex mathematical equations and are controlled by monetary policies that are implemented using Open market operations, Discount Windows and other, very complicated for laymen to understand, systems.

The idea on how it works can, crudely, be simplified in terms of simple Supply and Demand. When the supply of money in our system increases the interest rates decrease. Fiat currency is very elastic, for this reason, it replaced commodities backed currency (i.e. Gold Standard). But, unlike commodities backed currencies, which are backed by precious metals (e.g. U.S. $20 bill, before being replaced by the fiat system, used to be exchangeable for exactly 1 Troy Ounce of gold), the fiat system is backed by nothing! That's right... Nothing!

If The Fed wants to put more money into the market, all it has to do is print more of it. Inflation is, crudely explained as, too much money in circulation. While The Fed prints more and more money, to lower interest rates and stimulate the economy, it is also raising inflation rates. It doesn't take a genius to know that the increased currency being put into the market depreciates the value of each dollar in circulation. Manipulating the interest rates creates unsustainable economic booms and sets the coarse for inevitable busts and hyperinflation.

Why is The Fed manipulating our economy, limiting our free market?

Are we prepared, if our market becomes hyper inflated?

These are just a few questions i think we should start asking ourselves.

For a good information on economics i recommend anything from the Austrian School of Economics.

Shidduch Crisis!!

There is only a few things I wanna say about the so-called "Shidduch Crisis" that everyone in the Orthodox community can't stop talking about. I personally feel that this "crisis" is filled with nothing more than over exaggerations of minor issues and a lot of pointed fingers (all of which are pointing in the wrong directions) and while people are complaining about fake problems real problems are developing in this system that no one seems to be addressing!
Some of the reasons, that I've heard, given for the cause of our "Shidduch Crisis" are:

• There are more women than men out there
• Men prefer younger women and tend to marry a girl lower in age

In my opinion, these are not the real problems pervasive in the Jewish dating scene. I feel, if anything is to blame as a "Shidduch crisis" it is that there is a problem with the Shadchans ability to introduce Boy A to Girl B.

Several actual problems that no one talks about, in my opinion, are:

• Shidduch applications are larger that most job applications - and require more references!
• Many of the questions on these applications are idiotic
• Boy A and Girl B are developing unrealistic criteria when looking for a partner (criteria that tend to end up as questions on Shidduch applications that I define as idiotic)
• Boy A and Girl B fear peer disapproval and communal chastisement if they go outside of the Shidduch system to look for a partner, making them reliant on the antiquated Shidduch system that is collapsing on itself.

This post is not going to go into explaining my full viewpoint on the subject. I merely wanted to say a few things that were on my mind and possibly get people to think a little other aspects of this subject. Feel free to comment if you would like!!

* If anyone doesn't understand any of the words that are in Italics... Look them up! A Google or Wikipedia search takes five seconds! Don't be lazy!

The "Jewish" State... Sort of!!

Zionism and the State of Israel have effectively reinstated Hebrew as a spoken language, and designated it as the official language for the State. They have taken in millions of Jews, from over a hundred countries, and have integrated them into Israeli society. But is this the beginning of our redemption? Or, is this a farce, causing more harm that good for the Jewish people? In the late 1800's with the help of the Zionist movement and Eliezer Ben-Yehuda there was a revival of the Hebrew language. With the large number of new immigrants into the new Jewish State, and Zionists interests on creating a unified Jewish/Israeli culture it was decided that Hebrew would become the language of Israel. But what about languages such as Yiddish, Ladino, Yevanic, Dzhidi, Juhuri and several more ethnically Jewish Languages that have developed over time throughout the world?

Before WWII, there were well over 13 million Jews living throughout Europe and North Africa. These Jews were native speakers of Yiddish, Ladino and other Jewish languages that developed in different regions. They have developed distinctive Zmiros, Minhagim, Torah Trops, Literature, Theater and many other things that have made Jews a sociolinguistically distinctive group of people (even from other Jews). Unfortunately, 6 million Jews were viciously murdered in the Holocaust. While it is true that because of the Holocaust Jewish language and culture was severely crippled. One thing people forget to realize is that there were Millions of survivors! So why have all of these languages become endangered or already extinct?

It is understandable why these Jewish Languages were not retained in the U.S., England and other Western Countries. These countries contain small Jewish populations of 2% or less, they are English speaking and predominantly Christian in nature making it much more difficult for Jews to maintain a distinct language and culture. But how is it that Jewish Languages, Nuschaot, Minhagim and other distinctive cultural characteristics of Jews, from around the world, are disappearing? In Israel no less!!!

In order to unify the mass of Jewish immigrants into the fledgling nation, the founders of Israel maintained a mono linguistic stance for the nation and took steps to integrate these Jews into a new Hebrew speaking state. In the attempts at creating a new Hebrew speaking culture they needed to stress the usage of Hebrew over any other languages. Unfortunately, most people overlook the fact that one of the main vessels for this integration has always been the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Most Israelis view mandatory service in the Israeli army as a crucial part of the transition into adulthood. I don't know about you, but, it bothers me that the culture of the "Jewish" State is being formulated by a military.

Every Shabbos I go to shul. Before musaf the rabbi calls for the congregation to say a prayer for the State of Israel. One of the reasons I don't say this prayer, nor, do I even stand for it, is because of its first line.

"Avinu Shebashamayim, tzur yisrael v'go'alo barech et m'dinat yisraelreishit tz'michat geulateinu."

"Our Father in Heaven, Rock and Redeemer of Israel, bless the State of Israel, the first manifestation of the approach of our redemption."

The idea that the State of Israel is related to our redemption is predicated, mainly, on the idea that the country is fulfilling the Jewish belief that our redemption will begin with the in gathering of all of the Jewish exiles from Golus. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, I was always under the impression that Moshiach is supposed to come and lead us out of our Golus. Not, we lead ourselves out of Golus and then Moshiach will come!

I highly doubt that the first manifestation of our redemption is a secular Nation State, which has revived one Jewish Language at the expense of a half dozen Jewish Languages, allowed the military to shape it’s culture and has created a secular melting pot effectively destroying sociolinguistic aspects of regional Jewish cultures that have been around for thousands of years.

Just because Israel considers itself to be the “Jewish State” does not mean that it is the best thing for the Jewish people. I’m saddened to think, that in a generation or two, No one will be reading or writing Ladino Poetry or sing lullabies to their child in Yiddish and that this is happening because the “Jewish State” does not encouraged Jewish People to maintain their distinct cultural heritage, While, religious Zionist support this destruction of heritage because they mistakenly feel that the Secular State of Israel is the answer to their prayers.

* If anyone doesn't understand any of the words that are in Italics... Look them up! A Google or Wikipedia search takes five seconds! Don't be lazy!

Anti-Defamation League

The introduction to the Anti-Defamation League's (ADL's) website states that the purpose of the the organization is the 'exposing and reporting on... extremists who seek... to undermine our democracy'. I am familiar with the ADL's work, but, I was shocked by a listing I saw on the ADL's website.

I came across the ADL's posting in a Google search while doing research on protesting income tax law. (My full opinion on income tax law will be listed in a future posting)

The ADL description of the so called "Tax Protest Movement" is that of a "long-lived anti-government movement" with "white supremacist elements". They go on to describe tax protesters as extremist, right-wing, anti-government, blah.. blah.., etc.. etc.., criminals that are a danger to America. There web page also includes a "Portfolio of Protesters" including the names of several people who publicly oppose the I.R.S. and income tax laws! among these names are former I.R.S. investigator Joseph Banister, former Baltimore police detective John Kotmair, and attorney Lowell "Larry" Becraft Esq.

These people are hardly white supremacist, anti-government extremists!! They simply feel that income tax laws are unjust, and that the federal government has violated their rights under the Constitution. Therefore, like any American, they have taken their issues to the court room and have continued their protests of the federal governments tax policies by refusing to file their federal income taxes.

While it is true that their are extremist, right-wing, fanatical rednecks out there who hold to these viewpoints. Labeling everyone, who believes that the I.R.S. and certain tax laws violate our rights, as an "Extremist" is very excessive. Everyone hates taxes! And in certain extreme instances, people have literally "taken up arms with the I.R.S." But none of the actions taken, by the people listed above, are, in any way more or less violent or anti-American in nature than the actions taken by people who, in protest, refused conscription into the military during the Vietnam War, or those who protested the governments "Separate but Equal" policies by staging sit-ins, freedom rides, and non-violent resistance in support of civil rights.

If merely opposing tax laws and seeking the abolition of the I.R.S. grants you the label of an "anti-government white- supremacist", the ADL may want to consider adding to that list of names some of these "anti-government extremists". Because, all of them have at one point in time, expressed, to the public at large, the idea of abolishing the I.R.S.;

Congressman John Linder (R-GA)
Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX)
Former Congressman James A. Traficant, Jr. (D-OH)
Former Congressman Frank D. Riggs (R-CA)
Governor Mike Huckabee (R-AK)
Senator Robert "Bob" E. Clegg Jr. (R-NH)
Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC)
Etc...

Keith Olbermann, on President Bush's War!