Money conflicts in relationships are reflective of society's growing insecurity about its financial future. America is turning into a fatalistic culture. This negativity is based on economic conditions that contradict the once prevalent belief of never-ending prosperity. The United States' stalled economy, mind boggling national debt, and the prospect of the collapse of the Social Security system have left many Americans terrified about their ability to make ends meet. The American dream has become the American nightmare as citizens struggle for scarce financial resources. Small wonder then that economic issues are a deepening source of conflict in personal relationships in this country.
Money has become the very center of life for many Americans. As Andy Warhol put it, "Money is the moment to me. Money is my mood." Donna Boundy contends that America is a money-addicted culture, "There are a number of signs that we as a culture have become dysfunctional with money." The preoccupation with money pervades society at the consumer, government, and corporate levels. At the consumer level, shopping has become a way of life for some. In past generations, incurring consumer debt had a negative connotation; debt was reserved for big ticket items such as housing, land, or automobiles. Today, debt is viewed as normal. Consequently, America is now the number one consumer nation in the world. This frenzy for spending has naturally taken its toll on family relationships. The consumerism of the 80s has caught up with 90s recessionary conditions, creating a collapse of family finances due to laid off wage earners and a decrease in personal wealth caused by plummeting real estate values. Conflicts based on money are understandably commonplace in such families.
The mismanagement of money at the government level is notorious. As a result of rampant federal spending, America has assumed an alarming national debt. Because of ...