Should WE (the people) do more to stop the problems in this world, or the government?

Question

Sometimes I ask a question, and I get an answer with one of several of the following sentences in it:

There are starving children in Africa
How can we attain world peace?
How can we end racism?
Feed the starving children of the world?
Stop genocides all over the world?
Teach illiterate adults to read?
Cure Cancer?
Stop date rape?
Stop murder?

They complain that I'm asking a question when all that is going on. Yes I know all of that is happening in this twisted world and I try to do my best to help support efforts to prevent those things (donating to charities, etc), but what do people expect? It's not that easy to leave my entire family, pack my bags, and go to Africa to help starving children. I really wish I could, but it's just not that easy. So why do people have to go on and on about those things, and say other people don't do enough about it? Shouldn't that be up to the government? Wouldn't billions towards starving be better than billions towards a war?

Answer 1

oh hon, I wish it was like that!
I wish we could do something ourselves
to make this world better
(which we, theoretically can, of course!)
but there are so many selfish people,
self absorbed people, people who just couldn't care less or have their own agenda, not to mention evil and stupid people.... who just make it that much harder for the minority of us, descent, caring, good people to improve life on this planet.

Answer 2

I pity the next president we elect. Not only does he/she have a lot of big messes to clean up world wide and here at home but most of the American people will be watching him/her like a hawk.
I feel we must clean up our own messes here at home before we tackle any more issues on another part of the globe.
We, too, have the homeless and hungry and even genocide going on here at home and all of the other issues you have mentioned and more.
I, also,am a caring person and a Red Cross volunteer but know that even I, and others like me, can be stretched too far.
Billions towards improvements are always better then towards destruction.
There are 3 types of heros: Those that go out and get their hands dirty, those that donate, and those that pray for help to those in need. We need all three.

Answer 3

Some people, when faced with a question that they don't like/don't have a real answer to/don't understand, revert to this type of answer. It's a diversionary tactic, really. My standard response to this flawed method of "debate" is:

Why do you think, because I cannot solve all problems, that I should not try to solve only one?

That usually shuts 'em up.

Here's an example of a conversation with this type of person;

ME: I really don't think people should speed and run red lights. It's dangerous to other drivers.

THEM: Oh yeah...well, why aren't you doing something about insurance rates and then we wouldn't have to worry about car accidents, since they would be fully covered by insurance and things would all be great?

ME: But, wouldn't people still be getting hurt? I mean, insurance isn't the only aspect to a car accident. Aren't people's lives being put in jeopardy?

THEM: But, health insurance rates are going through the roof! Why aren't we providing free health care to all Americans. You're just a control freak who wants to tell other people what to do and take away their freedoms!

You get the picture. Don't fall into the trap of arguing with a person like this. They'll NEVER directly answer any question you pose. It's like talking to a wall.

Answer 4

It is OUR duty as the public to elect people that we think will serve in OUR best interest. A huge problem in this country is that the corrupt officials in OUR government keep getting elected by a populous that is uninformed. People are too complacent to just re-elect congressmen and other officials just because they are the incumbent. WE need MORE frequent change in our government that accurately reflects the principals that the nation believes in. Simply - It is OUR duty to make sure the right people are doing the job.

Answer 5

would you really trust that **** of a president asshole bush to care about this stuff or for that matter would you even trust him with money seeing as its all been bent on the destruction of innocent lives in Iraq. I don't support the war and I dont support the bush or the american government. its gone totally corrupt and frankly i do believe its the people's job to help out. no u dont have to go run off to a different country but you wouldnt have to if everyone was helping out. sadly no one cares and the handful that do arn't enough in number to create a big enough impact. i do believe that you pose a very good question when you ask if it would be more benefital for the billons of dollars to be spent on the starving than war.

Answer 6

We do. Or how come the communicate on emission, the greenhouse result, toxins and so on is this manner of warm toppic and new legislations is in position to boost sustainable enrgy? Politzics IS the concetratin on nationwide and international complications. Undeinably immediately we are a lot extra responsible than even 60 years in the past.

Answer 7

we all could do a lot more if we realy gave a darn. most people only care about themselves an could care less about the hungry or the ones who have no place to call home.

Answer 8

well how about tackling all those problems one at the time, but dont wait for your government to lead the way.