Blood for Sale

Why would someone want to profit off another's misfortune? After reading "Blood for Sale" I found myself asking that exact question. I give blood to the red cross as often as I can but I never imagined anybody would take money for it, even though I can see that if your life depended on it then price wouldn't be an issue. I guess I'm just naive. In my view of things a person should help others not for financial gain but to do a good for your fellow man. I seriously doubt someone would charge another person for saving their life. Of course that is a direct approach as oppose to giving blood where the person's life you save isn't known by you. So does that make it okay? It depends on who you ask because most people have the me first attitude where they feel that if they do something or give something then they should be compensated for whatever they give or do for someone else.
Society as a whole is changing, but is it for the better or worse? In my opinion it's getting worse because as a society we are becoming less dependent on our fellow man due to technology and other factors. So donating blood and helping others takes a back track to your own needs and so companies are then formed. These companies buy blood from anybody who meets a few requirements and in return they are compensated. The only thing is that drug addicts and alcoholics are their main clients and they can't be trusted for accurate information.
I'm all for giving blood as long as it's for the right reason and that is to help another without monetary compensation. If other countries can implement a program that promotes goodwill and the notion that helping others shouldn't be for their own gain then why can't we do the same.