IMO, the majority of people from all political persuasions care only about their own comfortable lives and how to make themselves even more comfortable(finacially, social status etc). It is often only when things become uncomfortable that genuine empathy is aroused and peoples' eyes are opened to the daily struggles of those less fortunate in our own country. What this situation has created is a vast increase in the portion of society that is no longer "comfortable". And yes, hopefully we can harness this in a positive way..
