>> Ford wanted to control his workers' lives not just within the factory but without. <<

That's never okay.

>> He was very against alcohol (I've not researched him so no idea of that origin) <<

Well, it can cause problems.

>> and beer gardens (which were more like an English rural pub, than an Oktoberfest) in addition to providing amusements (they often would add things like gondola swings) were places immigrants and their descendents could negotiate blended -American identities. <<

People need milling grounds like that.