US and Israeli Elections Mirror Each Other Amidst Foolishness, Bullshit, and Evil

As both the United States and Israel approach significant elections in the coming weeks, a striking similarity in the political atmosphere is observed, despite their differences in size and challenges. In both nations, there's a pervasive sense of lost control and disintegrating order, leaving citizens struggling to comprehend rapid changes and plan their futures. The media is saturated with expert commentary, yet it often exacerbates confusion rather than providing clarity.

This article proposes a framework for understanding the power dynamics in both countries through three lenses: foolishness, bullshit, and evil. Drawing on Carlo Cipolla's "The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity," foolishness is defined as actions that harm others without benefiting the perpetrator, or where the benefit is disproportionately small compared to the harm caused. Cipolla argues that fools are numerous, persistent, and found across all societal strata, making them susceptible to electing "bigger fools" in democratic processes. Examples cited include Donald Trump's trade tariffs and Iran policy, and Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, funding of Hamas, and the Gaza war.

Harry Frankfurt's concept of "bullshit" is also explored, distinguishing the bullshitter from the liar. While a liar knows the truth and intentionally misleads, a bullshitter is indifferent to truth, often unaware of it, and prioritizes their agenda. The article contends that both Trump and Netanyahu are masters of bullshit, making fact-checking futile as their audiences have become accustomed to it. Examples of their misleading statements are provided, ranging from Trump's claims about trade deficits and missile defense to Netanyahu's historical revisionism and pronouncements about Hamas.

Finally, James Waller's theories on evil, categorized into ideological, banal, and circumstantial, are applied. In Gaza, the "evil" is seen in a government driven by messianic ideology and Jewish supremacy, aided by technocrats using advanced means, and executed by those focused on destruction. In the US, immigration policy is presented as an example of evil, with a racist ideology at the top, bureaucratic machinations in the middle, and frontline agents carrying out dehumanizing actions at the bottom.

The article concludes by suggesting a path out of this cycle, referencing the successful campaigns of New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who focused on economic issues and "affordability" to connect with voters. This strategy, previously employed by Bill Clinton, bypasses divisive cultural issues and addresses citizens' core concerns. While this approach has gained traction in the US, the Israeli opposition is seen as lacking a cohesive strategy, allowing Netanyahu to dictate the agenda and making a change in government uncertain.