The Falafel Economic Index: Not as Silly as You Think.

כ"ג לחודש השני תשע"ד

Forbes: The Falafel Index: A Way To Assess Purchasing Power In The Middle EastComment Now

Adam Heffez, April 28, 2014 —The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

The Arab Spring brought into focus the economic underpinnings of instability in the Middle East. In a region where over one in four youth is unemployed, how well people can afford a basic meal is a primary consideration.
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The Falafel Index, first floated by The Majalla, an Arab magazine, in 2011. As a staple meal across the Middle East, falafel (crispy, golden balls of chickpeas) sandwiches provide a more region-specific, and thereby more accurate, basis for an index [than the "BigMac Index"]. The Falafel Index is culturally fitting, and based on the actual purchasing preferences that everyday citizens bring to the market. (cont.)

"The Falafel Index"

Esser Agaroth (2¢):

Falafel in a Pita w/Tehinah
*often w/tomatoes and cucumbers

OK. I get it. Falafel instead of BigMacs.

Makes total sense.

But, the main reason this index is not just another clever gimmick, is because falafel is edible.

Don't forget that the so-called "Arab Spring" (2011) was not just about ideology; it was also about food. Inflation in Egypt alone had skyrocketed! Riots in Tunisia and Algeria were also motivated by rising food prices.

This is why Hamas, which is in control of Azza, is clever,...evil, but clever. It uses at least some of the funding it receives from Iran and other terrorism-supporting nations and organizations to build hospitals and schools, and to provide food. The food Hamas provides is just enough to maintain its status as the "hero," keeping the support of the people, and just little enough to sustain the people's anger against whoever Hamas tells them to be angry.

Let us also not forget that Arab countries were not the only countries rioting, albeit with different "styles" of rioting. Economically related concerns were said to be the root of riots in Spain and Greece. Strangely enough, not much can be heard about what has been happening in Cyprus, over the past year. (Do you know what has been happening in Cyprus over the past year?)

Soon,"Economics" will soon be the accepted euphemistic code for "food."

"Sheeple"
Led around by the powers that be

Around the world, those who are at least somewhat awake from the numb-out state of being "sheeple, have been talking about gold, silver, even copper, as sound investments, even saving as alternatives to the currencies which will eventually be worthless.

They are not wrong to do so. On the other hand, the last time I checked, gold, silver, and copper were not life sustaining; whereas falafel is. In other words, gold and other precious metals may have a value which is tangible, in contrast to U. S. Federal Reserve Notes, and other paper and plastic currencies. However, metals and the like still only have a value because we project onto it. "Supply and demand," remember?

The bottom line is that you cannot eat gold; you can eat deep-fried chick peas. When food becomes rarer than gold, which would you prefer to be in possession of, gold or falafel?

May The Almighty have mercy on us!

I will be expanding upon this post, and in particular, elaborating on its cryptic foreshadowing of an ending soon in The Falafel Index: A Practical Application.

Be sure to keep up with similar posts, related to "prepping," which I expect will become an increasingly more prominent theme here at Esser Agaroth (2¢).