Everyone shouts about the «theft of coalition funds» — but they will do exactly the same

These are the days of election eve, and there is no escaping this mess. Once again, we see sanctimonious outrage regarding the «election snatchers» and coalition funds that the government is trying to transfer in the remaining months before the elections.

Currently, several votes in the Finance Committee are stalled due to the opposition’s claims regarding coalition-money. The irony is that, unlike thousands of other political complaints, this one is factually correct.

The government is rushing to fulfill commitments and satisfy the interests of coalition parties before the elections. What makes these complaints problematic is the depiction of the situation as a «midnight raid» or «theft of the till». We have grown accustomed to this tone, but there is no greater lie than this.

Public money, originating from taxpayers, is allocated to purposes promoted by coalition parties. It sounds terrible, as if the public till is being robbed in broad daylight, but this is the system: the government is built upon the interests of the parties that comprise it.

These interests can be very broad public interests (making railway stations accessible, subsidies for day care centers) or narrow party interests (funding a specific institution in Ein Hod or Kiryat Sefer).

An old Jewish joke says that the goy is busy all day chasing money and women, while the Jew is busy searching for a livelihood and matchmaking.

In any case, these are coalition funds. They are no longer divided in the dark; they are written and signed in advance, dressed in endless robes of criteria and caveats. This does not make it any less problematic, but that is how the system works. No one even tries to claim that they would not do the same.

So what? When the opposition divides these funds for the purposes of their future partners, it will be «the fulfillment of the public interest», whereas now it is a «sectoral midnight raid».

Every home knows the clear distinction between «my interest» and «your interest». «Mine» is always more right. Not because it is mine, but simply because it is right and smart, while you are talking nonsense. My interest is the interest of the family, while yours is personal. Pure logic.

Here is a brilliant, dazzling, and unique forecast: it is not going to change. Even in a unity government of «flowers and red hearts», this is how it will work. Each partner will insist on their share, and it will not always be about making railway stations accessible. Sometimes it will be sectoral to the point of pain. All that remains is to hope that the division between very broad, broad, and narrow interests will be fair.

Those with «very broad» interests will take the bulk of the cake, and others will take the minority. Until then, it is possible to lower the flames a bit and not portray the rival as a criminal just because they are doing exactly what you plan to do in a few months, if only you win the elections and take hold of the reins of power.