I am writing a separate comment because I want to talk about what both Chad and Susan have discussed here.

I agree with you Chad in that there is a long-running conversation about personal responsibility in this nation.  Through the past election season there was plenty of debate, and it continues as we consider the role of government in our ongoing budget discussions.  What concerns me is the problems with determining the acceptable level of personal responsibility here.  At what point do we decide that a person has done "enough" and is worthy of assistance?  At what point do we say, sorry, you are just going to have to suffer your bad choices.

It is in our nature as humans to attribute bad things that happen to us to our environment and own  what is good for ourselves.  We achieve good because of hard work.  Bad is the result of circumstances or bad luck.  This is normal, healthy behavior that keeps most of us out of the depths of depression.  Interestingly we do the opposite when we consider others.  Other people who do well and are "lucky."  They have good genes or had good handed to them, but have earned and deserve the bad.  I believe this fundamental attribution error inhibits our ability effectively determine a course of action when interacting with others in need.

Combine this with the truth that we are actually really only in control of ourselves and our community breakdown is complete.  In the end, people will only do their best when THEY want to, not when we want them to.  We want people to act in their best interests, but they already are in a sense.  People always do what they think is best at the time.  The most we can hope for is to INSPIRE people to act differently, to offer alternative courses of action and demonstrate that they work effectively by living them out in our own lives.  Every person I have ever watched improve their lives has done so because they wanted to, rather because they were forced.  Every one of them had missteps and failures, and every one was supported by others in helped up when they were ready.  Some achieved their goals in a moment, some are working on them still.  And all I can do is continue to help when I can and live my own life as well as I can.

And that is where Susan and I cross paths, in this belief in our mutual responsibility to support each other.  It is impossible for me to know or judge the actions of others without a complete understanding of the life-long context of the decisions they made.  And as that's not really possible, the best I can do is try.  When I talk to people, the question I ask most often is, why are you doing that?  The answers help me understand their position and figure out if there is a way that I could help.  Sometimes there is...  sometimes not.  I don't really wonder if I should help, only consider whether I can.  It is because of my feelings of responsibility that I am empowered to act, and this attempt at understanding allows me to help without fear of it being a waste.  I am not walking their journey, but I can control what I do...

And I know I am eternally grateful for those friends and strangers that helped me along the way.