As much of an asshole as I come across as, I always try to empathize with people in news stories. I was raised Quaker from birth, and it’s what we’re taught. “There is that of God in everyone,” is a lofty way of saying, “Everyone else has feelings just like you do, asshole.”

The thing is, after decades of performing this exercise with every single person in every single news story, there are people that—when I still my mind and do the Deana Troi thing—block the empathy wave with a selfishness so great that no amount of positive vibes can pass. These creatures are ready, willing, and often eager to let thousands of people suffer and/or die for any amount of gain. It could be like, “I hate that black guy, so I’m gonna undo this legislation he enacted,” even though there is no reason to do so except spite. As a result, thousands of people can’t get some crucial medication, and their lives are fucked up or ended.

Why Not Just Fake It?

I am past that need to appear like I have some angelic moral high ground by saying shit like, “They are human beings, and they deserve our sympathy!”

Fuck that. We’ve given them enough energy. Now, I say fuck them. They don’t deserve any more of it. Let them suffer and die. My energy is going to the people who are going to make things right.