To summarise the research, which is outlined here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7797776.stm: Orangutans were given tokens that could be traded for bananas.  Some tokens could be traded for the Orangutan's own use, another kind could be traded for a banana for a friend.  The research showed that the Orangutans would trade their tokens to give each other bananas - but only if their 'banana buddy' did likewise.

Here is the root of true compassion - the kind that featured pre-Christian communities. You can't build a barn on your own, so when you need a barn built, you invite your friends over and you have a barn raising party.  However, should you not go to your friend's barn raisings... you might be left on your own if you need to raise another barn.  Likewise, there was a social contract to look after the sick and the elderly - it will happen to you sooner or later, so you did what you could for your friends and family that fell too old or sick to look after themselves - and they would do the same for you.

However, these pagan and pre-religious social systems were replaced by a Judeo-Christian idea of compassion which stated that you should give with no thought of getting anything back, should give and keep giving. 

This has led to, instead of mutual help within a community of people, the formation of groups that only give, and groups that only take.

Sometimes these 'takers' are discrete sections within a society, such as the 'homeless', and Britain's welfare dependent underclass. Sometimes it is whole nations - such as Bangladesh and  many of the African states.  Some of these countries have been living on handouts for so long, that they have convinced themselves that their problems are caused by not enough aid.

Many charities such as Oxfam and even some of our leaders such as the Gordon Brown agree, and think we should give, give more and keep giving without ever expecting anything back from these basket-case countries.  These wise heads can't seem to understand what an ape understands, that a system where we give our bananas away without ever getting anything back can't work for ever.

 

Charities are already reporting that the public, fearful for their own economic wellbeing, are increasingly reluctant to put their hands in their pockets for the bottomless pit of foreign aid and social engineering  (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/16/earlyshow/main4670979.shtml)

 The coming global recession will create the environment necessary to bring an end to the something-for-nothing dreamland of Judeo-Christian compassion.