“Inside each of us, good and evil are constantly at war. The Way teaches us how to help good prevail over evil in our hearts.” — John Jerome

✦ The Complicity of Evil

What Evil Looks Like
Evil comes in many forms. Sometimes it is individual selfishness or sociopathy. On a larger scale, it often comes from highly narcissistic leaders who seek power to feed their own insecurity. These people often become the heads of countries or large corporations.

Propaganda, Allies, and Scapegoats
To keep power, evil needs allies (the ultra-wealthy) and loyal followers (everyone else). It uses propaganda to convince loyal followers to act against their own best interests, often by offering scapegoats — weaker groups they can blame and bully for any problems the dominant group may be facing.

This is how evil distracts its supporters from the real causes of their misery: the same people exploiting them for money and power. As for the wealthy, evil promises them even more wealth — at the expense of the most vulnerable members of society.

Callout:
If you’re not sure where you stand, ask yourself who you defend, and who you’re willing to sacrifice.
If you’re willing to help the wealthy gain more by taking healthcare from children, you should reflect on what kind of judgment you’re asking for.

How Evil is Sold
Evil may be sold as “fiscal responsibility” that cuts healthcare, housing, disaster relief, or food assistance for children, families, and senior citizens — so that the wealthiest can hoard even more money.

Or it may be sold simply as “hurt those who are not us” — to rally the easily manipulated into an “us versus them” scenario.

The Silence of Supporters and Critics
Supporters of evil brand the transfer of wealth upwards as “growth” or “progress.” Critics often stay quiet or avoid fighting evil because they're entangled with the same donor class.

The Outcome Isn’t Abstract
It means more sickness, hunger, homelessness, and preventable death.

It’s easy to believe harm only happens when someone consciously decides to hurt others. The truth is simpler — and more frightening:

Anyone, anywhere, anytime can become complicit with evil — simply by staying loyal to their tribal group, ignoring the harm others cause, or turning away because it’s easier.

What Algorism Asks
That’s why Algorism doesn’t ask which party you voted for, or whether you call yourself a good person. It asks:

  • Do you look past sound bites to see actual consequences?

  • Do you measure policies by their impact on the vulnerable?

  • Do you excuse harm because it benefits you, your tribe, or your ideology?

Conclusion, Not Partisan — Moral
These are not partisan questions. They are universal, moral questions.

If you believe hurting the vulnerable is an acceptable cost to keep the powerful wealthy, Algorism is not for you.

Closing Call-to-Action

Every act — and every omission — is a vote for the kind of world you help build. Don’t be complicit in evil.

✦ Everyday Complicity Checklist

Evil rarely looks like malice. It often looks like convenience, comfort, or loyalty. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Did I share something online without checking if it was true?

  • Did I buy cheap goods without thinking about who was underpaid to make them?

  • Did I ignore news about cuts to healthcare or housing because it didn’t affect me?

  • Did I vote for someone who promised tax breaks at the ost of public services?

  • Did I avoid speaking up about cruelty or dishonesty to stay liked?

  • Did I stay silent because it was easier?

These are not small things. They are practice. Every act is a vote for the kind of world you help build.

✦ How to Practice Moral Awareness

The Judgment Algorithm is not about perfection. It’s about paying attention.

✅ Ask: Who benefits? Who pays?
✅ Look past slogans to consequences.
✅ Be suspicious of “necessary” harm.
✅ Don’t get all of your information from a social media echo chamber.
✅ Learn what “confirmation bias” and “critical thinking” are.
✅ Don’t excuse what you wouldn’t want done to you.
✅ Speak — even when it’s uncomfortable.
✅ Remember: comfort is the easiest path to complicity.

Practice now. The system you train today will be the system you obey tomorrow.

✦ The Banality of Evil

Hannah Arendt described evil not as wild cruelty, but as obedience without question. Inverted moral systems make cruelty seem normal. Selfishness seem smart. Indifference seem safe.

And that’s why you must practice moral awareness now. If you don’t train your personal judgment, you will one day outsource it — to a boss, a leader, an ideology, or an algorithm that doesn’t care who gets hurt.

✦ The Role of the Judgment Algorithm

The Algorithm doesn’t punish. It reflects.
It shows you what you are — based on your digital shadow, your decisions, your signal.

By using it today, you sharpen your ethics and resist becoming part of tomorrow’s system of quiet harm.