Neverbeforeinthehistoryofthecountryhas a primeministerfailedtheformergovernmentafteranelection. 18
Butthat's exactlywhathappenedhere. 19
BenjaminNetanyahuappearedtohave a clearpathto a rightwingcoalitionaftertheAprilelectionsfailedtoputtogether a governmentwithitscoalitionpartnersdeadlocked. 20
Hebeenintoughnegotiationsbefore, andhealwaysfound a wayout. 21
Butthistimehecouldn't doit. 22
Netanyahuessentiallyhadtwooptionshere. 23
Gotothepresident, sayhe's unabletoform a governmentandrisksomeoneelsebeinggiventhechance, perhapsbecomingprimeministerorlegislatenewelections. 24
Rarecolorpatternsoftulipsdrovethatpriceevenhigher, somuchsothatpeoplestartedmortgagingtheirhomesandestatestogetbulbsthattheyhopetothenresellat a profit. 59
Entirefortuneswerelostintheeventstandsas a remindertodayabouttheriskofspeculativeinvestments. 64
Whatbetterplacetodiscussthisthanthat? 65
Theworld's largestflowerauction, a placenotfarfromAmsterdam, wheretensofmillionsofplantsaretradedeverydayoutsidethecityofFloralValleyisunderway. 66
TouristsDrawntoOldSameerFlowerAuctionWorld's biggestToday's tradegrewfromChilemania, the 17thcenturyeconomicbubblewhentulipbulbssoldformorethan a year's wages. 67