Okay but like… the Luddites were right though.
They weren’t opposed to technology. In many cases, they were the ones who built the machines they would later destroy.
They were opposed to letting capital owners dictate how the technology was used. They worried that they would end up working longer hours, in worse conditions, for less pay.
They died (and killed) to prevent this — to the point where destroying a knitting frame was declared a capital offense.
While they did get disbanded eventually, they also laid the groundwork for modern labor rights.
Which is why it’s super disappointing that their name has become a derogatory term for being stuck in the past, when they were ultimately calling for a progressive technological revolution that we have still failed to achieve today.
They worried that they would end up working longer hours, in worse conditions, for less pay.
And they were right! Working conditions in 19th century industry were absolutely appalling and workers were certainly not earning more money.
The Luddites were an early form of direct action of working people against the ownership class. They were also an early example of workers rights movement being crushed by State violence.
It’s discouraging that their history in popular understanding is 1000% from the perspective of said ownership class.
“Luddite” as a diminutive persisting to the modern day is a testimate to the power of corporate propaganda, even 200 years ago.
