Interdependence of the Lowest Third in Agriculture and Industry

Excerpt: Let's consider what we choose to regard as the lowest third of our population in terms of their economic and social welfare. For this group in the cities numerous relief measures have been set up in recent years. These include the W.P.A., direct relief, surplus food distribution, free school lunches, and old age assistance. By comparison, little has been done to help the situation of the lowest third in agriculture. It is true that AAA payments have gone to many low income farmers and the Farm Security Administration has helped hundreds of thousands of destitute farmers but the condition of these people in the lowest third is one of the malignant growths in our civilization. At no time is it safe for a nation to allow people to fall behind in economic progress and health, to suffer from underconsumption and malnutrition, but it is even more dangerous in time of emergency.