Quora Answer: If You were Prime Minister of Israel, What Would You Do about Hamas Lobbing Missiles into Your Country?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “If you were Prime Minister of Israel, what would you do about Hamas lobbing missiles into your country?”

If you want to undermine Hamas, then you need to undermine the reasons why they exist.  This applies to any opposition group, any terrorist outfit, any ideological enemy.  It is common sense.  Ideas are the basis of resistance.  They must be addressed, because that is far more efficient than any conflict of attrition.  As long as the ideology is valid, another group will always arise espousing it.

Firstly, it is only logical to go back to the two-state solution, and dismantle the settlements.  Israel is a secular state, and it does not make sense for the Religious Far Right to dictate policy.  Why should the non-religious, or the irreligious die for the religious convictions of the extreme fringe?

Secondly, bring leaders of the Palestinians to the negotiating table.  Use this as a chance to elevate people we can deal with, and sideline their hardliners.  Make it their interest to deal with their own extremists, because they know their own kind better than any external intelligence apparatus.

Thirdly, dangle aid, and work at developing Palestine.  This creates a client state friendly to Israel, and a near abroad that is a source of cheap labour for a lower manufacturing cost.  This allows us to leverage on their lower cost, and our technological expertise.  Prosperity gives the people a stake in the status quo, and destroys Hamas recruitment.

It is important to promote secularism, and dismantle religious extremists groups, both Muslim and Jewish.  The problem with both sides is that they have allowed the lunatic fringe to dictate policy.  This is 2019.  Nobody should be treating scripture as historical documents that shape policy.

The state apparatus should be turned towards the extremist Jewish groups that are promoting a state of total war.  This includes Protestant groups that sponsor them.  Most of these groups are not in Israel, but are based far away from the fighting, in the US, in Europe, and elsewhere.  Why should Israeli citizens shed their blood for the agendas of foreigners?

The lessons here are learned from the British measures to tackle the Communist insurgency in Malaya.  If we isolate the larger population from the insurgents, and give them a stake in the system, through economic growth and development, we undermine the ideology.  The American system of using bigger guns, and bombing everything back to the Stone Age has not worked, whether in Vietnam, or now in Afghanistan, and the Middle East.

The current conflict will impoverish Israel long before the Palestinian issue is resolved.  Wars are expensive.  There is also the cost of treatment of troops that have to serve in conflict zone.  And if it leads to those associated with the establishment and the military-industrial complex being wealthy at the expanse of the population, it will lead to regime change by the disenfranchised.  This challenge to the state will come from within, from among the lower classes of the Israeli citizenry, not external forces.

Quora Answer: What is the Number One Reason Most Startups Fail to Get Funding?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What is the number one reason most startups fail to get funding?”

You have to understand that there are far more start-ups looking for funding than funders out there.  Any start-up is competing against hundreds, perhaps, thousands of others in a similar field, all convinced they have the next cutting-edge technology, the next best thing since sliced bread.

I have been on both ends of the spectrum, representing the start-up seeking funding, and the funder’s financial advisor to the start-up.  Start-ups fail to get funding because they fail to articulate their case to potential funders.  Many of these people can barely state their case.  If they cannot present to the funder, how are they expected to present to shareholders, business partners, and customers?

Some of them can certainly talk, but they do not know how to present a coherent business case for their service or product.  They do not understand how to fully leverage their case with their strengths.  Many of them have no one who is financially literate, and that does not give funders the confidence to give them money.

Finally, when it comes to a business plan, no one has the time to read through hundreds of different plans from all manner of hopefuls.  There are four things we look at.  If we like what we see, our people will read the rest, and crunch the numbers before we invite you for a meeting.

Firstly, the executive summary needs to be less than a page.  If you cannot tell us what you do in two paragraphs, and the market you intend to capture, then you have no idea what you are doing, and that business plan is discarded.

Secondly, we want to look at your financials.  We need to see if the numbers are real, or built on hope and fantasy.  Most financials are far too optimistic, and give unrealistic timelines.  That tells us, again, that you have no idea what you are doing.

Then, we want to see the exit strategy.  A lot of business proposals, asking for funding, do not even have this section.  Do you intend to eventually buy us out?  Are you going for IPO?  Is there further funding down the road?  Is there a sale on the horizon?

Finally, we look at the team.  If the expertise is in-house, it looks promising.  You cannot have a technology start-up run by three accountants who intend to hire a programmer.  That is never going to work.  As such, building a credible team is very important before you ask for money.

Quora Answer: Since I Hate Public Speaking, Should I Force Myself to Join a Toastmasters Club?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “I hate public speaking.  Should I force myself to join a Toastmasters group?”

No.  You join something because you have a genuine intent to better yourself, not punish yourself for it.  You will infect others with your negative attitude, and it helps nobody.  Toastmasters is a support group to promote public speaking, and encourage members to better their speaking skills by providing them opportunities and material.  Toastmasters is not a detention group for people who hate public speaking.

Quora Answer: What Do I Do with $100,000 Trust Fund about to be Under My Control?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “What do I do with a $100,000 trust fund about to be under my control?”

I am assuming that you are young, and are about to reach the age of majority, and thus able to assume direct control of the fund, as a beneficiary.

Firstly, get a full accounting of the fund, so that you understand where the assets are parked.

Secondly, make sure you have solid financial advise regarding your investment horizon, your financial goals, and your asset weightage.  Depending on your risk profile, you may consider adjusting these to better suit your goals.

If the fund is doing reasonably well, do not liquidate it.  Trust funds also function as distinct legal entities that mitigate your taxes, and grants you protection from creditors and an acrimonious divorce.

Quora Answer: If Someone Leaves You Money in a Will, Who Will Contact You?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “If someone leaves you money in a will, who will contact you?”

Depending on the nature of the estate of the deceased, you will either be contacted by the executor of the estate, the probate lawyer, or the public trustee’s office administering the estate.

Quora Answer: Is It Possible for a Risk-Averse Person to Launch a Successful Start-Up with Limited Capital?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Is it possible for a risk-averse person to launch a successful start-up with limited capital?”

No.  If he is risk-averse, then he does not have the temperament to run any business, let alone a start-up. Risk-averse people do not take the calculated risks required to guide a business to success.  They do not nurture the pioneering spirit among the staff needed to innovate in a competitive market.  A risk-averse person is guaranteed to fail in business.

Quora Answer: Will Insurance Cover Pregnancy if You are Already Pregnant?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Will insurance cover pregnancy if you are already pregnant?”

No, because the pregnancy is a pre-existing condition prior to your coverage.  Insurers do not, as a general rule, cover you retroactively.  If your group health policy covers pregnancy, you must not be pregnant upon the policy inception, and there is a waiting period, which may vary from 90 days to a year.  This will be stipulated in the policy contract.