Lemme 'splain something to you people.

Showing normal empathy to monsters? It's like trying to save them while drowning. They'll grab the hand...to try to pull you in and pull themselves out. And then they'll laugh as you drown, calling you a sucker.

I'm not saying you're bad

And I'm not saying you're stupid. You're kind and empathetic. That's a good way to be.

But sticking your hand out in that situation?

That is terminally stupid. Do you feel me?

Carl Sagan, in Demon Haunted World, talks about 'zero sum games'.

You should read the book.

But he talks about a modified 'Golden Rule' you know the 'Golden Rule'?

Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

It's a good rule. But...it's a rule that allows evil people, selfish people, to game you and game you hard.

Sagan suggested another method.

Golden Rule, coupled with Tit for Tat.

You start the game (the zero sum game WHICH IS NOT LIFE BTW) with the Golden Rule.

Do unto them, kindly.

When they do evil unto you? Then you return it.

If they then turn good?

You then do good to them, until they betray that.

And in zero sum games?

It's not just a positive strategy you can feel good about, it's a winning one.

Life...is NOT a zero sum game.

Nor is it a game. Nor do we only 'play' or deal with one other player.

But, it's a good concept for how to be a good person in a world with people who are not good, decent, or just.

And how to operate in a world where evil people will insist upon YOUR DECENCY to weaken you, while profiting, while never showing a goddamned drop of moral consideration themselves.

That, in a nutshell, is Donald J. Trump.