Most conservatives lack the capacity for empathy. Generally, any empathy displayed by a conservative toward a stranger is performative. They tend to see interactions as transactional and see empathy as a weakness to exploit.

Conservatives are entertained and even delighted by the misery of others. They will gleefully harm themselves as long as their action also harms others. Then, they will celebrate the misery they have caused as a “win”.

This is who conservatives have always been. It is who they will always be.