In the past 5 years in particular, I have experienced the unpleasant, unhelpful attitudes and indifferent care of quite a few hospital attendants as well as staffs of physicians. In each case, I have spoken to the person in charge about the behaviors and, if s/he did not see to it that the behaviors changed, I left the practice or went to a different hospital or facility. Sadly, I believe that the erosion of service in not only the medical area but also in too many other businesses and professional offices and institutions reflects a general, widespread and dangerous undercurrent in our culture of resentment and dissatisfaction with working. My training as a clinical counselor and organizational consultant indicates to me that these very prevalent behaviors are the result of the wide gap in our country between the "haves and have-nots," The flaunting of the possessions and lifestyles of "the rich and famous," made all too accessible on television, encourages the "average" person to feel undervalued, underprivileged and disgruntled. Pride in one's work and one's performance is absent and people in charge, including too many physicians especially, make far too much money in comparison with their staff people and show too little appreciation and respect for that staff. "Physicians, heal yourselves," if you really want the health care system to improve. (Before retiring recently, I was a licensed practitioner in the mental health field for many years. In my offices, we put the welfare of the staff at the top of the list of priorities in patient care.)