If volunteerism is highly respected, then why

[Deja Q]

isn't the whole of our society based on volunteerism on a participatory scale - do your bit to help society and get the benefits of in return?

[NYC Liberal]

1. Because most people wouldn't.

[Deja Q]

4. Why?

We all work to make money, which we in turn use to buy what we need. Sadly, society would prefer we rot than re-train us to another field should our original field become obsolete.

Okay, maybe what I proposed is wrong. But the current 'system' is very wrong too.

[leftyandproud]

11. There is no "society".

There is only YOU...There are only INDIVIDUALS....like YOU.

"Let him who would move the world, first move himself."
--Socrates

[ClassWarrior]

2. Because the corporatists condition us to embrace greed...

...not magnanimity.

NGU.

[Robeson]

7. You got it.

[deek]

3. Celestine Prophecy

Makes perfect sense to me.

[JanMichael]

6. Never read it. How does it relate?

[RoeBear]

5. I say...

...make volunteerism mandatory.

[Book Lover]

8. I don't think it is respected

because such importance is placed on the fiscal worth of certain kinds of labor; if your time really were valuable, you wouldn't be giving it away. Same problem underlies the lack of respect stay-at-home parents get.

[zbdent]

9. Volunteering IS highly respected

and, when you factor in the overbloated "equivalent" that many of these wealthier people "donate" via their time (and report on their tax returns), it's profitable too . . .

Imagine how much A-Rod would knock off his taxes if he donated a couple of hours of his time, considering how many actual minutes he plays for that salary . . .

[DebJ]

10. cause lots of us have three-four jobs per household to survive

(we have three and more, just hubby who is a teacher of 19 years and myself) and the rest are too damn rich to give a damn about anything but their money?

[JVS]

12. Because respected and enjoyable are not the same concept

In fact one might argue that the respect given by many to those who volunteer increases in magnitude to the acetic nature of the volunteer work. Do a few hours each month for habitat for humanity and you will suffer little pain and receive little recognition. Go to Molokai to help lepers live out their disease and die in comfort and well fed, eventually contracting the disease and dying will get you made a saint.