Rich Man, Poor Man

There are a great many societies and organizations trying to do something about the serious illnesses that afflict our society. Institutions, both public and private are waging war, to one degree or another, against heart disease, arthritis, cancer, children’s diseases-even the common cold. And to the extent that we support sincere efforts to alleviate human suffering we reflect the better side of our human nature. But to my knowledge, we have no organization doing anything about our number one crippling disease which one prominent psychiatrist has called “money sickness.” The love of money and possessions can cripple us, diminish us, and even destroy us more effectively than any other form of illness. It can be the cause of frustration and nervous anxiety. It can cause physical illness. It can demolish marriages, break up families, drive persons to murder and suicide. Doctors are beginning to tell us now that often they are able to trace internal medical problems directly to patients’ attitudes toward money and possessions-the…