Comment on Are we deprogramming empathy in the US?
bus_factor@lemmy.world 3 hours ago
This is largely an American problem, although it is spreading due to global media.
I blame it largely on Calvinism and the prosperity gospel:
“Good things come to good people” -> “If good things didn’t come to you, you’re not a good person” -> “Poor people are poor because they are bad people, and we should not help them” -> “It’s okay to help billionaires, they wouldn’t be rich if they weren’t good people”
A lot of poor people have this view in the US, which you would think would make them reconsider it, but they solve this with mental gymnastics: They and their in-group are good people, so obviously it’s okay to help them and the good things are coming any second. Another reason not to tax rich people, they’ll be one soon!
umbrellacloud@leminal.space 1 hour ago
This is also true in Hinduism and Buddhism, it’s just always been convienient for rulers to convince peasents of this