Don't ask what others can do....

Most of us have heard part of the JFK inauguration speech in which he said "Don't ask what your country can do for you, ask what you cn do for your country".

I would modify it somewhat and say "Don't ask what others can do for THEMSELVES, ask what you can do for them".

I say that in reference to the lame excuse which states that people "need to help themselves". What if someone can not help themselves? What if they have not been taught proper life skills? Is it their fault, the fault of their underwhelming education, or is it the fault of the society which tolerates this without doing anything about it?

If the person suffering depression doesn't have the energy to "help themselves", is it appropriate to expect them to "find it" (the energy)?

Is it the right thing to "tolerate" someone who's not helping themselves (to our liking of course!!), or are WE keeping everyone at a lower level of functioning?