Which is no way to behave towards fellow humans, not a path to any sort of moral high ground, and I’m pretty sure against the hacker news guidelines.
Painting with a broad brush, conservatives show empathy only for people like themselves and perhaps close family and friends or a local community. Progressives show empathy towards a far broader range of people.
(I think it's no accident that cities tend to be more left. They force people to have larger and more heterogenous tribes, and the correlation between political leaning and size of tribe apparently has some power in both directions.)
Conservatives will help externally, very generously when conditions permit. Progressives will demand their in group be helped, to other progressives (within the in group) this looks like caring action is taking place but the shortsighted view of the situation does not see who is being helped.
Take your city example, the city will demand food while simultaneously mocking the farmer, and taxing the farmer more if he exhibits success. The farmer knows he must produce as others depend on him.
You are likely letting America's strange healthcare situation cloud your view. That situation is fucking bizarre. Everyone should have access to publicly funded emergency health care, like we do in NZ (but do not make the mistake of thinking that it is a fantastic situation here either, private health insurance has become more normal unfortunately (i.e. our idiot government is making it more like the US for healthcare)).