E VERYONE wants economic security. Everyone wants the assurance that he will at all times have enough income to meet his and his family's needs. Congress passed the Social Security Act as a step toward making this possible for all. Security for the mass of our people can be achieved only when most of us have jobs. But even in times of what we call prosperity, there are millions who become destitute as a result of misfortunes that cannot be wholly eliminated in this manmade world of ours. Social security is a safeguard against these misfortunes. It is a plan to prevent destitution. It is a way of providing a minimum basic security for the millions. II. The problem THE HE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT was born during the great depression. At a time when 10 million workers were without employment other than work relief and when some 18 million people were dependent for subsistence on relief, the President set up a Committee on Economic Security to study the problem of destitution and to make recommendations. That was in 1934. |