Lost in the Noise

I’ve been struggling to collect my thoughts since Tuesday. The polarization of American society is now at an all-time high. Witnessing the finger-pointing and blame directed at nearly every group under the sun has been, quite honestly, outrageous. The divisiveness and atrocious conduct displayed by both sides during this election have, even by our standards, shocked me.

Many in my network who are reading this might expect me to relate it back to Israel or the tremendously problematic recent surge in antisemitic behavior among Americans. While those are my two biggest concerns, this week, they are not what’s keeping me up at night.?

The crux of my anxiety at the present moment is rooted in the complete lack of honesty and empathy exhibited by politicians. I’m frustrated that lying to get ahead, which, truthfully, is nothing new, is now being accepted as “part of the game” by a large portion of our electorate. It seems like something many are willing to accept, but I cannot. It upsets me when I see a Democrat call a Republican a “murderer,” and, conversely, when I hear Republicans using Trump-style insults to describe their Democratic opponents, or even worse, their colleagues. Similar to the complete absence of honesty, the conduct of our elected leaders is at a level where I feel compelled to speak out.

During our elections, it has become the norm for candidates to run on popular positions based on their interpretation of what will get them votes, irrespective of whether it’s a promise they’ll stay true to once elected. There is no focus on tangible policy whatsoever. Advisors are not spending their time suggesting to candidates what might be most useful for the American people, but rather, what will help them curate the best pitch to score political points. Analytics teams engaged in politics these days are being hired to decipher what will most make voters tick, and politicians are happy to say whatever it is that will help them win.

Speaking of analytics teams, I’m curious to know who the Trump team has enlisted over the years to inform him and his followers' disparagement of political opponents and those who exhibit disloyalty. There is even a Wikipedia page tracking these insults. While Trump is undoubtedly the biggest offender of such rhetoric, I believe it is consistent across the aisle. Whether it’s “Comrade Kamala” or referring to Trump supporters as “garbage,” such rhetoric, which has been embraced by our electorate, is intolerable. And it’s not just limited to insults. In recent years, baseless yet serious accusations have been lodged from one politician to the next. Our elected officials referring to their colleagues as “Russian agents” or “guilty of genocide” makes me wonder if America is truly in a state of downfall.?

In conclusion, it concerns me that elections and the political industry have become more of a spectacle than anything else. Networks like CNN and Fox News treat it like the Super Bowl or World Cup Final—with betting markets, expensive commercials, and ludicrous personalities—all that matters to them is ratings, and society has bought in. Algorithms are in place where lies and explosive rhetoric are rewarded, instead of the honesty and respect voters deserve. It begs the question: are we seriously comfortable with our children looking up to these people, our elected leaders, as models for what it means to be an American? We’re living in an era where injustice is common in all corners of the globe, with the United States serving as no exception. People’s lives are in jeopardy, and those in whom we have placed our faith are playing games. It makes me both sad and angry, and I don’t know where we go from here.