How much will you give to save yourself and how much to save your neighbour

Andrew Leonard of "How the world Works" says that the amount of money given in aid by the whole world is paltry compared to how much the US government is are willing to lend GM to buy the almost worthless Chrysler.

At the same time is the whole system collapsed he says that even worse things would happen to the poor. Still given a problem to the economy we spend huge sums of otherwise unobtainable money.

Can I do this on my own. How much should be my financial safety net? Is that even the right question. ... (I wish I could say see my upcoming post in which I will provide a neat insight and solve this painful issue.)