Ironically, some of the solutions we seek may be found in the past. Before the welfare state was created, before either employers or government took or were given responsibility for insuring us against every conceivable difficulty, people themselves came together in Mutual Aid or Friendly Societies. These voluntary organizations, the remnants of which still exist, formed under the premise that there is strength in numbers. These community-based associations required a small investment of time and money but provided great returns. They also showed individuals can work together without government interference to prepare for the future and provide comfort and security to each other in times of need.
