I have often thought about this issue (maybe mislabelled as well).
In societies like here in Canada we have a plethora of organizations in the human services area that help folks dealing with a variety of issues. A major group of human service organizations are food banks and emergency housing shelters.
Many of us at various times help out at these agencies. Yet when we do that are we 'tolerating' societal conditions which makes these agencies exist. One has to ask why food is distributed so inequitably in countries all over the world. Why do some people find themselves with no place to live. Why are instances of gender-based violence such a problem.
YOu know if we had really 'caring' society we would not need these types of institutions.
I know very progressive-minded individuals who decline to volunteer at these organizations for the very reason mentioned above.
Our public financial system ('taxes') does in part help reduce social inequities by its progressive nature at least at the federal and provincial levels in Canada. But I have sympathy with those who feel the 'anti-tax' hysteria of the last 25 years have severely restricted government (the political arm of society) to help reduce soical inequity.
Here in Canada 20 years ago all federal politicians voted to end child poverty by 2000...that's almost a decade ago and we still have child poverty in Canada.
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Do those "very progressive-minded individuals" do something else to support the less fortunate, or do they let them languish in their pain and suffering because society is not structured according to their wishes? Perhaps some of these people could run for office or start lobby groups or discussion groups to change the ways people think about and react to the deplorable conditions of the less fortunate both here and in other countries as well. ''If the minds of the people are pure, so is their land." It is the minds of the people, the citizenry, the taxpayers, as well as the politicians and social workers, etc., that determine the priorities and ultimately the policies of a country.
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