JShCD15 posted an interesting diary on empathy, which I’ve linked to at the end of this post.
It appears that the circle of concern of conservatives is somewhat smaller than that of liberals. It was noted several times that prominent conservatives have abandoned part of their ideology when it affects loved ones. Too many of us, perhaps, have closeted our own need for government help at one time or another.
Those of us who have benefitted from social welfare programs, from unions, from regulations and such should, this November, express gratitude to the taxpayers of our nation, state and locality for whatever we have received through such programs. So, for example, I would say thank you to the American and Hoosier taxpayer for subsidizing my college education and for Obamacare, without which I would not have called an ambulance that night in December 2015 to possibly save my own life.
It might help if people that see us as fully human (from consanguinity, work, volunteering, church or as fellow students) know that we were caught by the social safety net and, G-d forbid it be needed, we would like that net available for them and their loved ones and ours.
It is true that such a move would not convince many or most conservatives, but it should be done anyway. So many elections would have turned out differently if one Republican in fifty changed their vote. The best reason, of course, is to show gratitude for benefits received as part of what we owe other human beings.
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