That was certainly Bismarck's theory when he introduced them to Germany in the 1870's. It was a part of an effort to undermine the Social Democratic Party in Germany.
-----Original Message----- From: Gray, Lynn [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Sent: Wednesday, April 10, 2002 11:09 AM To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Subject: economic history question Would it be safe to say that the introduction of govt programs such as unemployment insurance had an impact in quieting the calls for the US to abandon capitalism and take up socialism? In other words did these types of govt programs serve not only as safety nets for individuals in need but also for capitalism as a whole? Lynn Gray