Those Cracks in the Washington Monument

Being here in Israel sans American TV, I have no way of knowing if the comedians have enjoyed the obvious jokes about the earthquake-caused cracks in one of the world's most famous phallic symbols, the Washington Monument.

At the same time that the United States is being ruled by one of the tallest Presidents ever, Barack Hussein Obama, the Washington Monument, the tallest stone structure and the world's tallest obelisk in the world has become dangerously damaged.

The United States economy is not improving.

I have no doubt that with more and more baby boomers reaching retirement age and needing more medical care, things will get worse. Of course, part of the reason is that my peers, of the "me generation" with the first long, extended adolescence, had statistically few children. That means that there's a shortage of working adults in their thirties to pay into Social Security and other retirement funds. Yes, Social Security is like a legal "Ponzi scheme."

Over forty years ago, when my husband and I made aliyah (moved to Israel,) we treasured and saved every dollar we got as gifts. Now, the U.S. Dollar is losing value in relation to the Israeli Shekel.

American friends who bought an Israeli home not long ago told me that it was the very best financial investment they ever could have made.  Israeli real estate is where financially savvy Jews from all over the world are investing their money.  The downside of this is that they are driving prices up, past where your average Israel can compete.  Bottom line: Jews are sending their money before making the big move.  The United States banks offer much less interest than the Israeli ones.

It doesn't surprise me that the Washington Monument shows cracks on the top.