> Blaming consumers is the least helpful way to think of this and is, intentionally or not, blatant intellectual dishonesty that saves people from a deeper examination or taking action.

And always using government and corporations as a scapegoat seems equally intellectually dishonest, imo.

Are you suggesting that the people are just innocent pawns being manipulated to vote, buy, and consume a certain way?

I wasn't proposing that the solution is merely to blame the consumers. But in a capitalist democracy the buyers and the voters do actually play a large role in the direction that these issues take.

It seems, to me, to be a problem of education (regarding the issues) and motivation. Perhaps recent events will function as a public notice and help to realign priorities.

> I am certain both you and I (or all) are equally guilty of ignorance and apathy of several other societal ills.

Agreed. And I believe that it's our responsibility to make an effort to focus on our own ignorance and apathy. And to put thought into what we contribute to our peers.

I'm not saying that we're solely responsible. But we collectively share a large portion of the responsibility.