Much of that reason is lack of an understanding of how it will really make things better.
Sometimes. And then sometimes there's ample knowledge as to how specific action will improve lives and people don't care.
In my community, those partaking in many welfare programs must participate in educational programs in order to maintain their welfare benefits. Our subsidized housing locally has a built-in educational/developmental component. And participants must work or volunteer their time with a local agency to maintain their benefits.
Some of these folks worked out okay, but most were troublesome. They expected our organization to accommodate them without care as to the purpose that we served in the community and how we needed them to support our cause.
What I've witnessed over the years is a very different type of work ethic that doesn't just come from a lack of education. It comes from a different type of personality - it comes from people who lack respect and struggle with a degree of apathy.
They placed their needs above the needs of the people we served and knew good and well what they were doing because we EDUCATED them on our purpose and it didn't make a difference.
On the service side of things, I can't tell you how many times I've worked with clients and have been floored by the mentality of people in my community who are provided education...BY ME...I'm explaining them how things work and what needs to be done to improve their situation and they don't want to hear it because they are hard wired to want that hand out.
A woman called me the other night requesting a service that she didn't qualify for. And when you deny people service that they expect and hold them accountable to their own choices (which I do all the time in my line of work), their reaction is amazing sometimes. People who CAN do for themselves and rise above challenging situations often forego in favor of what's easier.
The sad truth, these types of people are making it harder for organizations to serve those who really need the support. The greedy hurt those who are genuinely in need of service. I work with a lot of greedy, low income people.
The assistance provided through non-profit channels isn't assistance that people are entitled to. I hear all the freaking time when something challening happens...What are you going to do for me? The sense of entitlement stuns.
It might surprise you as to how many times I've offered to "hand hold" clients, going over and beyond, particularly with those who have functional and access support needs (not of the mental variety) and they still turn down opprotunities to support their longer term circumstances when I've personally bent over backwards to educate and patiently povide the tools and direction to steer towardes more premanent solutions.
At the end of the day, people make choices and through my own experience working with the general public, particularly the low income and elderly during emergency situations - I've found that you can only do but so much through educational efforts.
Our education is free, but, it doesn't come with bells and whistles, so people don't pay attention. A lot of people pay attention when something is "sexy" or after something horrible happens.
You can't force people to wake the hell up. Sometimes, people choose what's easier. A lot of people in pockets of my community opt for easy over smart (and know better) and pay for it dearly when emergency situations occur.
They are fortunate that they have a caring community that responds, of faith-based, non-profit and government partners working together. But, how long can we continue doing the same thing over and over again? Each time, resources dwindle BECAUSE we're responding to the same neighborhoods in response to the SAME events and people KNOW what they need to do and are CHOOSING not to do it.
I don't know what line of work you are in but I do see only a small number of people who refuse to do what they can to make their lives better. Almost always it has to do with drugs.
And is taking up drugs not a choice?
And even if it only helped 10% of the people wouldn't it be worth it? (thought it would help a much higher percentage than that)
Helping people is always worth it, but, I want to be able to choose how I help people. I'm tired of helping people through my paycheck through futile efforts.
I want to invest my money in NGO solutions in my own community. That's where my heart is. That's where I want my money to go.