Community psychology has not dealt directly with the economic forces that foster maladjustment. Instead, it has focused on changing the individual and limited segments of the population. Society supports economic structures and values that hinder community psychology programs. Individual empowerment has only limited scope because it does not deal with the basic economic issues that frequently underlie dysfunctional behavior. Evidence from societies with economic equality suggests that they are more consistent with the philosophy of community psychology. The strategies of psychologists who practice community psychology will become more effective if they become politically active to achieve the alternative socio-economic structures advocated by recent economic planners. A 22-item list of references is included. (Author/DB)