The Procter & Gamble Company (PG), Panera Bread Co (PNRA): The Truth About Health, Wealth, and Happiness in Investing

Some industries basically require an empathy shutdown for investment. Take the for-profit prison industry. The biggest of these companies, Corrections Corp of America (NYSE:CXW), relies on crime and punishment — the more, the better — to produce hefty profits.

According to sources including the ACLU, Corrections Corp Of America (NYSE:CXW) recently assured investors that economic recovery will boost the prison population.

Such a sad prospect to capture growth locks happiness out. It revels in the sadness of taking — in this case, taking freedom and giving to some pocketbooks. This industry has actively lobbied for more lock-ups through crimes like drug arrests, which can too easily drive to victimless crimes like nonviolent possession. This should strike us all, and even frighten us, with its immediate negative aspect.

True wealth is more than dollar signs
The marketplace can provide solutions to some of the world’s worst problems. It can innovate to help ward off environmental problems that poison the environment and destroy livelihoods. It can provide more jobs for the poverty-stricken and jobless, here and abroad. It can create novel ways to help the physically sick. All of these loftier goals boost economic health, and add true meaningful healthiness and happiness to the world.

No company is perfect, but increasing numbers are striving to do more good than ill. A positive portfolio provides profits and meaningful outcomes. We can all try to be wealthy in profits and in spirit by investing in the companies that are aiming for healthy purpose as well as opening our hearts to helping in our regular lives, too. That’s striving for health and happiness for all.

Check back at Fool.com for more of Alyce Lomax’s columns on environmental, social, and governance issues.

The article The Truth About Health, Wealth, and Happiness in Investing originally appeared on Fool.com.

Alyce Lomax has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Panera Bread and Procter & Gamble. The Motley Fool owns shares of Panera Bread.

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