I've put a lot of thought into that too, and you pretty much nailed it.
The one explanation I'd differ with is "Selfish". Rest assured, they're some of the most selfish people in the world, but I believe it's because they're ready to overlook all the suffering and inequity they cause because the feeling of being virtuous (and thought of as virtuous) is more important than anything else in the world.
I agree. What I mean is that it is a subconscious selfishness. They’re not intending to be but don’t realize their solutions are always a problem for somebody else to enable.
...and yes, the whole “virtue signalling” is the bleeding heart. It’s all window dressing but has no substance.
Free education!
Free healthcare!
Free housing!
Free meals!
Guaranteed allowance!
No war!
LGBT love!
Yay for me! I’m such a great person!! /s
To say it’s shallow would be the understatement of all history, yet they actually believe it all. Like abortion, the feminists love to talk of “choice”. They’re really not in general, they’re only talking about THEIR choice. Yet they had a choice to have sex or not, be married or not, use protection or not, give up for adoption or not, etc. - however, NOBODY else should have a choice. Certainly not the unborn child and not the father (financially). It’s pure selfishness.