Some observations

[Nuclear Unicorn]

If a person is impoverished they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person is materially well-off they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person lacks sexual expression they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person has unrestrained non-committed sexual encounters they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person believes the state is the solution to all social ills they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person believes their own individuality is the source of all good they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person denies unfair advantages exist for some they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

If a person dwells on the inherent unfairness of life they may become unable to have empathy with others and harm people

Some people just WANT to be assholes

[dawg]

1. Mental illness is a real thing.

It doesn't follow any ideological boundaries, and it isn't predictable. (except in hindsight)

[Nuclear Unicorn]

2. Agreed.

[Warpy]

3. Excuses, excuses

I think you're exactly right, some people seem compelled to go out of their way to be assholes. The best idea is to identify them before they become spectacular assholes and put them where they can do the least amount of damage.

Unfortunately, we seem to have too many in our government.

[zeemike]

4. The only thing I disagree with in that is that they want to be assholes.

I think it is for the most part conditioning...ususaly in childhood experiences.
When a child is born it is a little un programed computer, and if you want you can program it any way you want...with some limitations of course, because the hardware is complex.

[world wide wally]

5. Why do so many Republicans fit the last criteria?

[spinbaby]

6. What you are seeing...

...is people on DU struggling to understand why. It's called empathy, a quality Democrats tend to be good at.

[Blue_Adept]

8. I dunno

I see more of people trying to put what happened into context of their own agendas more than anything else.

[Enthusiast]

9. "Some people just WANT to be assholes"

It's easy to be an asshole if you just try.