Compassion is one of the greatest of human virtues. But effective compassion comes with an obligation to do more than what merely feels and sounds good. Public policies motivated by compassion must also consider the full complexity of the challenge—the unintended consequences and the reality of human nature—and strike a balance between what is desired and what is possible. Often the most beneficial expressions of compassion appear harsh and punitive, yet in offering more lasting and comprehensive solutions, do more to alleviate human suffering.
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Commentary: Fighting Loneliness During the Holidays
As I read through a recent Pew Research Center report detailing America’s dreary numbers regarding single-parent households, I came to a section on aging and living alone. Because I am doing both – collecting Social Security and living by myself in a place where I have few friends or family – I read this section with great interest. Pew Research reports that:
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