Existentalist Dilemma

On initial examination, the teachings of Tibetan Mahayana Buddhism seems like an appealing panacea for wars, social injustice, and the ravaging of our resources. It gives us a reason to be kinder to fellow bipeds, quadpeds, and centipedes and have tolerance for all beliefs. Of course, there are still some holes in this picture, including 1) contradiction between the idea of dependent origination (cause and effect) and the randomness of the universe implied by quantum physics 2) the difficulty to explain how the mind can be transmitted through the process of rebirth. Also, practically speaking, the need to adopt compassion for all sentient beings seems like a impossible hurdle. In one of the stories from the Jakata Tales, the Buddha (prior to Nirvana during one of his earlier lives as an elephant) gave his body to a group of starving travelers so they can live through their journey in the desert. How would this story translate into our modern society? (a chicken walking into KFC to sacrifice himself to feed the poor?)

So, even if we all have the potential to feel great compassion for all sentient beings, the more difficult question for me is this: if reality, as according to Buddhism, rests on a subjective existence, then what is the inherent value of life? No matter how much I reason, my mind can never reach a logical answer. Here's an attempt using Rikko's mosquito dilemma.

Attempt to argue it is wrong to kill a mosquito: The mosquito has sensation -> it will feel pain and suffer if I kill it -> I also find pain disagreeable -> I should have compassion for it -> ? And then the argument raises another question: why should I feel compassion towards the mosquito. Is it because the act of killing will also pain and destory a part of me indirectly? But then, if I am subjectively existing, which part of me does it destroy?...hmmm

The argument that it's okay to kill the mosquito is much easier to follow: It is only a mosquito, which will die inevitably die and since reality is subjective, better I kill it to make myself more comfortable and less itchy.

Of course, for a mosquito, I can act upon my second line of reasoning without losing too much sleep at night. But if I apply this argument to a cow, a dog, or a human, I wouldn't be comfortable with the second reasoning. So what's stopping me there? I guess people would refer me to G-O-D at this point. But, let's be as cynical as possilbe and say there is no Almighty, then what is left? Happiness? Bliss? Meaning of life can't possible be just pure chemistry. If it is, then why is prozac and other anti-depressants linked to higher suicide rates? Maybe, it is afterall.....God, if you can hear me, can you send me the divine answer to this question by Sunday?