What would you do if your opinion on what is right conflicted with what benefits you?

I think most of us will claim to vote for candidates based on whose views we think are morally right or will benefit society at large, rather than voting for the person whose policies will most directly benefit us personally. Do you think you do this?

Do you think you really would do so if what you believe is right directly conflicted with what will benefit you?

As an example, consider health care reform. Not necessarily the ACA, because this is not intended to be a debate about the specifics of that bill.

In one hypothetical, let’s say you’re a healthy person, but you believe people deserve universal healthcare. A new bill will implement universal healthcare, but you have to pay into the system even though you’re not using it. You’re already struggling to make ends meet, and this bill might make your life much more difficult. Do you vote for it anyway because you believe it is the right thing to do?

Another scenario, maybe you disagree with the healthcare reform because you think it will have an overall negative economic effect on the country, but you a chronically ill person and the bill would greatly benefit you personally. Do you still vote against it?

I know it’s hard to guess what we would do in these hypothetical situations. Have you ever actually been in a situation like this? What did you do?

If you haven’t been in a situation like this, why do you think that is? Is it because your views on what’s right and wrong are shaped by your experiences? Could it be because you rationalize voting for policies that benefit you by convincing yourself that they are morally correct?

This is just something I’m curious about.