what's wrong with the world

I was just watching "What Would You Do?" that is an ABC program, and this particular episode was about seeing something happen and not doing anything about it, using a hidden camera and actors to watch how people react (or don't) to something happening. First they use this well dressed attractive younger female actor, who pretends to collapse while walking down the street in Newark (NJ). They said she never waited more than about 6 seconds for someone to stop and help and call 911. Then they decided to see what would happen if they picked a less attractive, homeless man. This time, it took much longer for him to get help: 3 minutes. Then they added a beer can. This time, they counted 88 people walking by before a woman with a cane (who they tell us is sometimes homeless herself) stops and asks passersby to call an ambulance for the man. She keeps at it until finally a woman does stop, and somewhat reluctantly it seems, makes the call. Then, when the cameras come out and start interviewing people, the woman with the cane just quietly walks off while other people stand around to talk to the cameras.
I was touched by this (enough to blog about it!) and disturbed. I was especially affected as the woman with the cane stands there, keeping an eye on the man (who was an actor, but she didn't know that) and never stopping to ask for help for him, b/c she did not have the means to give it herself, no phone, etc. Then she gives him a name, Billy, and keeps up with him after she gets the one woman's attention, and some other people finally stop to help. The pain in the woman's face as she asks people to help the man and gets ignored was painful for me to watch.
This show made me wonder how much it would affect other viewers, and also made me wonder about the world. Why is it that we have to be like this? Most people just do not expend that much energy on caring for and about other people, not in a deep way, and it hurts me to know that, but also that I am limited on what I can do. I also understand and experience the fears associated with this, and how that fear can keep one from doing what one knows is right. However, I guess if people can see this, and take it to heart, and if we can see that the world is not totally lost, that there are still people in it who care, maybe we can have courage to care too.