Hyehudi.org

The hyperlinked evidence, from an excerpt on Lewrockwell.com:

In Israel, the main negative implication of U.S. largesse has been promotion of socialism. Had our country not been financially supporting a heavily unionized and socialized economy in Israel, these policies would likely have never been as large as they were, and would have diminished much sooner. There are strong empirical illustrations attesting to the correlation between size of government and economic regulations, on the one hand, and attenuation of the economy on the other (Gwartney, James, Robert Lawson and Walter Block. 1996. Economic Freedom of the World, 1975—1995, Vancouver, B.C. Canada: the Fraser Institute. For a non-empirical treatment of this phenomenon, see Smith, Adam. [1776] 1979. An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations, Indianapolis, IN: Liberty Fund).

(It seems to be missing from LRC, but can still be found here.)

At mealtimes, fast.

In conversation be still.

Among company find solitude.

• Rabbi Yitzchak of Vurka

The usual claim for the Gadol of each generation’s authority is this Gemara (Bava Metzia 91b):

אמר רב חנן בר רבא אמר רב, אפילו ריש גרגותא משמיא מוקמי ליה.

So every leadership position is ordained from Above. But might the flock ever deserve less than ideal leaders? Might not the leader be a hint and rebuke to those being led to change their ways for the better?

Wait, here’s another Gemara, Bava Kama 52a, which says just that:

מאי משכוכית? …רבי יעקב אומר, עיזא דאזלא בריש עדרא, כדדרש ההוא גלילאה עליה דרב חסדא, כד רגיז רעיא על ענא עביד לנגדא סמותא.

The leader is always chosen by Hashem, and everything Hashem does is for the good. But is that the immediate, obvious good or the more ultimate, atonement kind of “good”?

In fact, why not go back to the example itself? Anyone who has a tough boss, raise their hand!

So the question is, how is our generation doing in terms of observing Judaism? Well…

P.S. There is also the rarer possibility of a good generation with a bad leader and vice versa, as Chazal say in Sanhedrin 103a.