Romney pens fatally flawed op ed

This evening, Romney released an op-ed piece discussing culture as a determinant of economic development and prosperity.  He hits all the big buzzwords you'd expect, and he singles out Israel for praise, writing:

Like the United States, the state of Israel has a culture that is based upon individual freedom and the rule of law. It is a democracy that has embraced liberty, both political and economic. This embrace has created conditions that have enabled innovators and entrepreneurs to make the desert bloom.

Sounds good, right?  Unfortunately for Mr. Romney, such praise for Israel is wholly inconsistent with his opinion of Obama's economic platform.  Romney and his fellow Republicans decry an increase in the top tax rate from 35% to 39.6% as an affront to freedom, but Israel has a top tax rate of 48%, a Value Added Tax of 16%, set to increase to 18% next year, and a progressive payroll tax structure.  Their health care system is Obamacare on steroids, including mandated coverage, strong government control of policies and prices, and bans for-profit insurers from participating.

You can't praise Israel's economic structure in one breath and denounce Obama as a socialist in the next.