So, what can the average person do? Since this seems to be a deficiency of the market, it seems you have to vote with your wallet. How about using a percentage of your income to donate to worthy organizations? Maybe instead of giving a tithe to the poor, you give a tithe to causes that try to improve the whole human condition? Start communities (not hierarchical, political organizations: simply communities) that discuss this type of philanthropy. Maybe you could get a critical mass of people to donate to things that require a modest amount of funding.

It's not like anyone hasn't already thought of this, but what other choice does the inidividual have if they doesn't want to dedicate their whole time to fight very systemic and perhaps even an inherent human shortsightedness?