[wolfram74]

You've done a bit of a bait and switch, "fulfill their dreams" and "decent quality of life" are two very different standards. One, sure, we're in a society and sometimes that calls for sacrifice, the other, if we can't promise a decent life we shouldn't be surprised when people break the contract and act in ways that hurt the common good.

[avg_dev]

i don't think i've done a bait and switch and generally don't actually know what you mean by saying that i have done so. my point in that sentence was simply that nothing is promised by life. society does have norms and people do have values. i never said that i don't understand (nor did i intend to imply or portray that i don't) why people would act in ways that are not to, or hurt, "the common good". it is clear why someone who doesn't feel like their life is comfortable when they are trying to better "the common good" would act against that same common good in order to get some peace or enjoyment out of their own existence.