Toi,
1.It is true that the median income in Israel is lower than in the US but day school tuition there is astronomical. Many parents have no choice but to send their kids to public school with all that that means. High college tuition results in people starting out $100K in debt. In Israel, tuition is much lower and there are lucrative professions which only require a course. Some are even given in English as well as Hebrew although obviously without language skills a person will be severely limited (as in the US). Medical costs are also much higher and will become even more so under Obamacare – and companies will cut their coverage as a result.
2. In the uS it is also true that many blue-collar workers earn more than white-collar workers. One of the vice presidents in a company for which I worked commented that the high point of his career was when he earned as much as a LIRR conductor.
3. In America whom you know is also very important. However, the capitalist mentality causes people to be more than willing to give a connection in lieu of a handout. In Israel the Chareidi socialist mentality (which also has influenced some parts of the NR sector) gives fish instead of a fishing rod. However, fish can become an endangered species Not to mention the damage to one’s outlook and self-respect. On the other hand, it enables the fish givers to exercise control.
RabbiofBerlin, you are correct.She is a BT. Apparently some people think that the halachot of lashon hara and hotzaat shem ra have been repealed.Of course, BTs don’t count anyway.