Can Israel Survive?
Traditional pillars of the tiny democracy’s security have begun to erode.
By Victor Davis Hanson
Israel is the only liberal democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. Eight million Israelis are surrounded by some 400 million Muslims in more than 20 states. Almost all of Israel’s neighbors are anti-Israeli dictatorships, monarchies, or theocracies — a number of them reduced to a state of terrorist chaos.
Given the rise of radical Islam, the huge petrodollar wealth of the Middle East, and lopsided demography, how has Israel so far survived?
The Jewish state has always depended on three unspoken assumptions for its tenuous existence.
First, a democratic, nuclear Israel can deter larger enemies. In the Cold War, Soviet-backed Arab enemies understood that Israel’s nuclear arsenal prevented them from destroying Tel Aviv.
Biz bankruptcies decline in Bergen and Passaic counties
JANUARY 29, 2015 LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JANUARY 29, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY HUGH R. MORLEY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
* Business filings in Bergen, Passaic at lowest since 2007
A decline in the number of business bankruptcies in Bergen and Passaic counties from 2013 to 2014 has left New Jersey with its lowest level of business bankruptcy since the recession started at the end of 2007, federal figures show.
Business bankruptcies fell by 13 percent in Bergen and 30 percent in Passaic, according to figures released by the U.S. District Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey. Figures for the state show the business bankruptcy level as a whole nearly the same in 2014 as it was the previous year.
Figures for the state and the two counties now show there were fewer bankruptcies in 2014 than at any time since 2007, the year the recession began in December.
The number of consumer bankruptcies provides a less positive picture, however. Although Bergen, Passaic and New Jersey as a whole saw a fall in the number of consumer bankruptcies, they remain well above the 2007 figure.
Bankruptcy attorneys differed in their assessment of what the data say about the economy, and what is driving the figures.
New Jersey Parents Voice Concerns About Tests Linked to Common Core
JERSEY CITY, N.J.—Parents and educators anxious about new state tests starting in March vented their frustrations Wednesday at a hearing in a middle-school auditorium here.
Speaker after speaker told a state commission at the hearing that the new online tests would eat up too much class time, be too hard, hurt students’ self esteem and waste taxpayer money. The exams in math and language arts will cover public-school students from third to 11th grade. (Brody/PolitickerNJ)
Labor leader Thomas J. Sullivan Jr. takes oath to fill Bergen County freeholder vacancy
JANUARY 28, 2015, 8:36 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015, 10:06 PM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
HACKENSACK — Bergen County’s newest freeholder, labor leader Thomas J. Sullivan Jr., was sworn in Wednesday, vowing to “listen to everyone’s voice.”
Flanked by his family, Sullivan took the oath of office administered by County Executive and fellow Democrat James Tedesco during the board meeting.
Sullivan was chosen Sunday by members of the county Democratic Committee to fill the seat vacated by Tedesco on Jan. 1. He would next have to run in the November election to serve the last remaining year on Tedesco’s three-year term.
“I can’t think of somebody that would represent the people of Bergen County, and all the people of Bergen County, better than Tom,” Tedesco said.
Tedesco previously had sworn Sullivan in at a private ceremony in the freeholder chambers on Monday morning.
Glen Rock hires two police officers as controversy simmers over two suspensions
JANUARY 28, 2015, 9:41 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015, 9:45 PM
BY CHRIS HARRIS
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
GLEN ROCK — The Borough Council voted Wednesday night to hire two police officers to fill vacancies, but continued this week to resist residents’ calls to reinstate two policemen suspended for deleting two photos from a department computer.
Only a handful of the more than 40 residents in attendance for Wednesday night’s meeting addressed the council, but all chided them for keeping longtime officers Christopher McInerney and Bryan Scott off of the borough’s payroll.
“I am asking you to get [the two officers] back as part of our community,” said resident Michael Donahue, eliciting applause from the audience; he called the suspensions “de facto” punishments.
“Let’s get these gentlemen back on the payroll until it is adjudicated,” Donahue insisted.
McInerney and Scott also had their health benefits cut in late December when they were suspended.
“You should be ashamed of yourselves; I am ashamed of you,” Dan McInerney, the brother of one of the officers, told the council.
No plans yet for Ridgewood’s Schedler property, house
JANUARY 28, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015, 9:28 AM
BY LAURA HERZOG
STAFF WRITER |
THE RIDGEWOOD NEWS
As a piece of Ridgewood property has continued to sit in limbo for the past year, the issue seemingly comes down to money.
Neighbors in favor of a park with lots of trees are making some financial steps, while those in favor of a large baseball field for the older athletes are considering others.
But, since making an initial step toward a grant to stabilize the Schedler house’s roof at the urging of some neighbors, the village – which officials say is currently not in a position to fund any changes to this property – is holding off on future movements.
Eastside neighbors of the Schedler property on West Saddle River Road, who want to both preserve the roughly 200-year-old Schedler house currently languishing on the property and create a family park, are now creating a 501(c)(3) to collect donations from “Friends of the Historic Zabriskie-Schedler House and Family Park.”
“Probably in a month or two we should have that running,” Ridgewood Eastside Development (RED) leader Isabella Altano said last week. Altano is an architect from that neighborhood who is in favor of preserving the house.
Were you uninsured in 2014? It’s time to pay the piper!
Some 3 million to 6 million Americans will have to pay an Obamacare tax penalty for not having health insurance last year, Treasury officials said Wednesday. It’s the first time they have given estimates for how many people will be subject to a fine.
The penalty is $95, or 1% of income above a certain threshold (roughly $20,000 for a couple). So you could end up owing the IRS a lot of money.
Take a married couple with $100,000 in income – their bill comes to $797, according to the Tax Policy Center ACA penalty calculator.
The penalty for remaining uninsured rises to the larger of $325 or 2% of income in 2015.
Educators, parents urge commission to drop or delay new state standardized tests
JANUARY 28, 2015, 6:32 PM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015, 7:46 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
JERSEY CITY — Parents and educators told a state education commission Wednesday that New Jersey should drop new state standardized tests, or to consider delaying them, given many problems they already present .
Speakers at a public forum held by Governor Christie’s commission on student testing repeatedly referred to preparations for the tests as having a negative effect on classroom learning and the tests themselves as badly constructed.
Christina Krauss, a member of the Ridgewood Board of Education and parent of an eighth grader, said the new tests put a burden on teachers and students and that test preparation was consuming classroom learning.
“Our children are not lab rats,” said Krauss, who was one of about 45 people who spoke at the forum at the Franklin L. Williams School. “They are curious, creative, individual learners who should be allowed to flourish.”
The tests, known as PARCC, will be required in grades 3-11 in math and reading this spring. State education staff have said the tests will provide useful information about students’ progress and needs as they prepare for college and career. But critics say they take too much time much time away from instruction, are too long and stressful and hamper learning in non-tested subjects.
AVConnexions to Participte in 30 Day Matchmaking Miracle
AVConnexions is excited to announce that Arlene will be a speaker at the 30 Day Matchmaker Miracle telesummit on Saturday, January 24.
If you’re committed to making a change this year, join me and the leading Matchmakers in the industry for this FREE event – and start the New Year with results!
For 30 days starting, Friday January 16th and ending on Valentine’s Day February 14th the leading Matchmakers are all coming together in ONE place to talk with YOU!
Their combined insights cover virtually everything you need to know to become your own Matchmaker and find your perfect match!
The Miracle We’re All Looking For is LOVE ~Louise Hay
Finding not just “someone,” but “The One” can sometimes feel like it would take a miracle.
An elite group of the industry’s top professional Matchmakers have been successfully helping their clients meet “the right one” for decades.
Our clients don’t necessarily have a hard time meeting people; their challenge is meeting the RIGHT person!
Together, we have successfully matched tens of thousands of singles from around the world and coached them on how to find and keep the relationship of their dreams.
You CAN create the love you want…and we’ll show you how!
In this 30 day program you will learn insider secrets from the experts – insight that elite clients spend thousands of dollars to learn!
The best part is it won’t cost you thousands of dollars – it’s FREE!
Dial in from 3:00 – 4:00 Eastern Standard Time each day to hear a different topic from our panel of the top Matchmakers in the US and Canada! We will have time for Q & A each day, so bring your questions! Don’t worry if you can’t make it to the live call, we’ll send out the recordings at the end of each day!
New Jersey and You : Cop tells NJ teens to stop seeking snow shoveling jobs
JANUARY 28, 2015, 7:23 AM LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2015, 7:23 AM
ASSOCIATED PRESS
BOUND BROOK, N.J. (AP) — Two enterprising teens who were looking to make some money shoveling snow ran afoul of a New Jersey town’s ordinance and were told by police to stop.
Matt Molinari and Eric Schnepf were handing out fliers in Bound Brook during a winter storm on Monday night.
Police Chief Michael Jannone tells the Courier News of Bridgewater (https://mycj.co/1Bnuw6s ) a resident reported a suspicious person.
George Washington Middle School Student is Finalist in Statewide Poster Contest
January 28th 2015
A George Washington Middle School student has been chosen as a finalist in the Protect Me With 3+ immunization awareness contest.
Protect Me With 3+ empowers middle school and high school students to create posters and videos, offering prizes for first, second and third place. Among the entries, 10 finalists have been announced and it’s now up to the public to decide who the top three winners in each category.
The creative works of 10 finalists – five middle school and five high school students – are displayed for public voting which began on January 24. Individuals can vote every day until the ballot is closed on February 11, 11:59 PM EST. The top three posters and videos (and their respective creators) will be acknowledged at an awards ceremony on February 12.
Please let me know if you need any further information and/or if you would like to speak to Protect Me With 3+ about the contest and its overall mission.
Anyway, as the winter weather hit New Jersey on Monday, Gov. Chris Christie (R) advised residents to take note of the state-wide travel ban, asked that they check supplies of nonperishable food, and also told them to get at him on Twitter with their plans for that night. Because what else were they gonna do? There was a state-wide travel ban, guys.
Some people — cough cough — thought it was a bit … unexpected (?) to see Christie tweeting about Dunkin’ Donutson Monday night, but others found it somewhat charming that the governor was so into everyone’sdrinking family-friendly entertainment. (Larimer/The Washington Post)
Deblasio with signer ,why is this guy still mayor?
Leaders in New York and New Jersey Defend Shutdown for a Blizzard That Wasn’t
It was an unprecedented step for what became, in New York City, a common storm: For the first time in its 110-year history, the subway system was shut down because of snow. (Flegenheimer/The New York Times)
Scott Walker forms committee in preparation for 2016 presidential bid
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose speech to activists in Iowa last weekend drew strong reviews, has taken the first formal step toward a presidential candidacy in 2016, establishing a committee that will help spread his message and underwrite his activities as he seeks to build his political and fundraising networks in the months ahead.
Walker filed papers to set up the committee, called “Our American Revival,” and a new Web site for the organization was scheduled to go live later Tuesday. The steps come after a busy weekend of pre-presidential events that included his address at the Iowa Freedom Summit, a later appearance at a gathering in California hosted by the billionaire Koch brothers and a stopover in Denver for additional fundraising.
“Our American Revival encompasses the shared values that make our country great; limiting the powers of the federal government to those defined in the Constitution while creating a leaner, more efficient, more effective and more accountable government to the American people,” Walker said in a statement in the release announcing the committee
Melissa Quinn / @MelissaQuinn97 / January 27, 2015
A nonpartisan entity of the federal government has found that the Affordable Care Act will cost the government less than expected. However, the reduction in the law’s price tag comes among findings that millions of Americans could lose their employer-provided health insurance.
The Congressional Budget Office came out with a report yesterday revising the costs and budgetary effects of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
Though the agency found that the health care law is projected to cost the government less than originally thought, the CBO projected enrollment in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) will continue to increase.
The CBO attributed the drop in Obamacare costs to lower-than-expected enrollments and subsidies given to those who are eligible.
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The number of consumers receiving subsidies could decrease even further following the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the court case King v. Burwell. The high court will decide whether Americans purchasing health insurance on the federal exchange, HealthCare.gov, are eligible for subsidies.
The CBO found that Obamacare will cost the government less than expected, but up to 10 million will lose their employer-based coverage.
Here are five takeaways from the CBO’s report:
Obamacare provisions related to health insurance will cost the federal government $571 billion through 2019, a 20-percent reduction from the CBO’s projections in 2010.
Up to 10 million Americans will lose employer-based coverage.
Beginning in 2018, up to 16 million more Americans will have health insurance coverage through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
Medicaid and CHIP will cost the federal government $59 billion more than previously estimated.
About 31 million people will remain uninsured by 2025.
