If my skin wasn’t white, I would still believe in personal responsibility and a limited government that placed protecting rights over granting privileges.

If my parents had cancer, I’d donate to promising cancer research and help take care of them during their treatments. I still wouldn’t want to pay higher taxes that some politician says will go to cancer research.

If my spouse was an immigrant, she’d be a legal immigrant, so we’d have nothing to worry about.

If my water was unsafe, that might influence my local election, but I wouldn’t grant unconditional support to any politician who merely says they’ll clean up the water.

If my brother was gay, he would still lead a chaste lifestyle because that’s how we were raised and chose to live. Even if he chose a different path, he’s not entitled to my approval.

If my (hypothetical) children were homeless, that would be on ME if they were minors, not the government. If they were adults, the only way they’d be homeless is by their own choice.

If my sister had depression, I’d be a listening ear, helping with her medications and anything else she’d need. Nothing to do with how I vote.

If my friends can’t afford an education, I’d help them find jobs where you don’t need a college degree, or find scholarships or financial aid to pay for a degree that’s marketable. Nothing to do with how I vote.

If my planet was slowly suffocating, I’d support technological innovation that would allow for clean energy without compromising the economy, and for enforcing existing anti-pollution laws based on sound scientific research.

Empathy doesn’t mean I have to jump on the socialist bandwagon.