Well, I have lived in Israel for a total of over 18 years, so my idealism is a little less starry-eyed than one might think. Most recently I took a rather large pay cut to move back here with my family, and yes, my wife and I knew the economic costs of moving here before the move.
I have lived in Israel through economic good times and bad, and it is my own experience that someone who moves to Israel from the West is indeed somewhat starry-eyed. It is difficult for me to address people moving here from the Ukraine and such places as I do not know much about the economic situation there.
Yes, the Medina does seem to just muddle through, at times. One could certainly hope for beter long-term planning, and more idealism. A great many of our politicians leave a lot to be desired–but I could certainly say the same about the US, and my friends from other countries say the same about their politicians.
Still, we DO muddle through. Despite our net export of brain-power, our research and development output is greater than that of many Western countries of greater size, and in general, the bureaucracy is getting less and less. Our dream is alive, and growing. It may appear broken to A600KIloBear, but not to us.
So A600KiloBear is welcome to his pessimism, and I will take my optimism. I am glad that he is happy with his choice of not living in the State of Israel, and my family and myself our thrilled that we are. So everyone’s happy.