Taking responsibility - our collective duty!

WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR REAL PROGRESS IF SO MANY OF US FAIL TO SEE OR IGNORE, (as well as make excuses which we internally justify to ourselves),,,,,that we should each take some responsibility for what goes on in our world during our lifetimes,

Unfortunately, finger-pointing or complete and complacency are far too common!

The idea that we have to each do a little something 'extra' and that the vast majority of us DO NOT have an excuse to not be involved in making a bit more of an effort other than that which we are absolutely required to do in our day to day lives - could easily be more commonplace but have a more substantial effect on the improvement of life for ALL OF US, than perhaps we individually ever imagine!

Being true to ourselves and one another actually almost instantaneously gives the individual a sense of achievement and represents achievement with exponentially positive effect!.

The excuses?: (too busy, working too hard, preoccupied with family, preoccupied with progressing in career, preoccupied with issues that are of immediate direct concern to ME...OR WHY should I stick my neck out for the "common good" when others won't  (or certainly would not for ME)...and I will end up with all the risk, others will benefit from my efforts and I will be a focal point for any negative repercussions which result).

None of these are truly acceptable when we come down to the basics of life- but if we All thought, behaved in this way, would we have much of a society at all. 

If some brave souls throughout history did not take some of the chances we use as excuses-where would our respective societies be today? 

Finally, if we all make a little more effort then the collective burden is substantially diminished is it not? - WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS IMPORTANT ISSUE?