SECURITY VERSUS INSECURITY 113 



The situation is different today. 



As I write these lines, the newspapers are carrying 

 a story to the effect that 15,252,000 men and women 

 are unemployed. This means, according to The Busi- 

 ness Week, which was responsible for this estimate, 

 that during November, 1932, over 31.2 per cent of 

 those who are normally employed in the United States 

 were unable to earn a living: 46 per cent of those 

 ordinarily employed in manufacturing; 45 per cent 

 of those in mining; 40 per cent of those in forestry 

 and fishing; 38 per cent of those in transportation; 35 

 per cent of those in domestic and personal service; 21 

 per cent of those in trade; 17 per cent of those in agri- 

 culture; 10 per cent of those in public service; and 10 

 per cent of our professional classes were unemployed. 

 On the basis of one and a half dependents for each 

 worker, 37,500,000 men, women, and children were 

 directly affected by unemployment. And the situa- 

 tion since that estimate was made has become steadily 

 worse. But these millions by no means number fully 

 all those affected by the economic catastrophe which 

 struck the country four years ago. It would be safe 

 to say that again as many have had their standards of 

 living sharply reduced by reductions in wages, by 

 part-time work, and by declines in the price of what 

 they produce or possess. And if we were to add those 

 who live in terror of unemployment or of financial 

 ruin, almost every person in the country would have 

 to be included. 



After nearly two centuries of industrial expansion 



