"Perverted compassion," a recent phrase being used in the media is accurate in suggesting that giving drug money to addicts is hardly showing concern for their lives. Likewise, allowing the homeless to sleep in filth on public grounds destroys their health, as well as the community and local business, with no logical concern for anyone. A similar term, "toxic empathy," is the title of a book by Allie Beth Stuckey from a Christian point of view that suggests that the feeling of empathy as virtue has been distorted.
It is unlikely any religion would recommend people be allowed to sleep in filth in public, but somehow the liberal view is that it should be allowed in order to show "empathy."
Such empathy is toxic to all parties but allows liberal governments to do nothing while claiming credit for being "compassionate." Empathy and compassion are words that are easy distorted by poor focus. You could feel compassion for a hungry berserk person, but also feel compassion for the children that are getting their lunch boxes and lunch money stolen on the way to school.
"Perverted compassion" is really a perverted focus, or a foolish focus to uplift a few but cripple the many. Much of our politics regarding sports, education, immigration, employment, and government spending have suffered from "perverted compassion" or "toxic empathy," which disregards the overall health in treating a symptom. That doesn't mean you don't treat the symptom; it just means you consider the overall health as the priority and don't harm other organs in the process.
Topic Author
