This is Stockholm Syndrome. You're saying people should be grateful for their hostage takers. It's a strategic choice since it makes you look good, but it's not ethical.
You're also saying that all parts of society are equally causal. Would you save two people who are hanging off a cliff equally even if one influenced your life more?
Um, what are you talking about? Hostage takers?
They are, after a fashion. Even the weak ones who can't provide for themselves bring out an important aspect of society. We are better as a people, and more ethical in general, the more we take care of the weak ones. Societies that care the least are the worst to live in.
In your scenario, yes, I'd save the person I knew better. And the reason is because, ethically, it makes no difference who I save. Unless I know that one of them is some sort of serial killer or something, they are equals. I can't save both, so I must pick one. I would pick the one who would hurt the least for me to lose. Because ethically, there is no clear-cut answer, so I can decide for whatever arbitrary reasons I like. Either way, I will lose one of them.
Again, you're enslaving supply to demand. Not only is potential limited, but potential takes commitment to be fulfilled.
I'm not sure why you would even consider saving people who don't personally commit to your potential's fulfillment.
Again, what are you talking about?
If you hate this society so much, leave. That's the choice you have. I don't. I like it here. It could be a lot better, but at this point in human history, this is where we are. And when I say, "I like it here," I don't mean America in the generic. I like Minnesota, because it's a state that functions very well and takes extraordinary care of its people.
Almost everyone does contribute something. The people who don't are few, and I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt in order to provide for the overwhelming majority who contribute. We can never totally eliminate people who take advantage or cause harm, but that's a crappy reason to punish the majority.