The Difference is Empathy

Talking with conservatives is a difficult business. They speak a different language from us because they think differently. The difference is empathy.

Start with domestic spying. It's okay according to my Conservative friends because it's happening to someone else. Indications are that vast numbers of phone calls are being intercepted and mined for key words but that doesn't matter, it's being done to terrorists. They'll hide behind national security but the argument that wins them is they think their phone isn't being tapped. Then it's okay.

On the issue of abortion, they also think it's nothing they're interested in. Killing a baby makes a great difference whether you're looking at it from the viewpoint of a rape victim who now has to bear her rapist's child because someone else made a moral decision for her or from the point of view of a suburban housewife with her SUV, three kids and her home alarm system. But that doesn't matter, it doesn't happen often, I'm in a stable relationship and it can't happen to me.

Stem cell research is another great one. It's easy, sitting in my chair without any sign of any disease stem cells could cure to say that research involving human embryos is wrong. I'll challenge any of the opponents who, one day, come down with Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's or diabetes to refuse stem-cell based treatments that may one day be developed. My bet is their moral high ground becomes an untenable swamp very rapidly.

Tax relief is another great one. We need to cut taxes so the rich can make more jobs (and more money). Never mind that we have to cut programs for seniors, when I get old enough to need them, I'll have money. Never mind that 300,000 families will lose food stamp benefits - I don't need them and they should get better jobs. Student loans with higher interest? Not a problem, I got my degree years ago. Just give me my dividends tax-free, please. It'll do the economy good.

It could go on and on. The main point of current Conservative thinking equates to social Darwinism. We improve the nation by letting the weaker members fall by the wayside. Republican Washington, in their policies, in their spending plans, in their actions and words, display a complete lack of empathy and their conservative supporters equally so. They don't care what happens to the other guy, they don't share his pain, they got theirs and that's all that counts.