The Luddites: Opposing the Exploitation Enabled by Technology

The Luddites, textile workers in 19th century England, opposed the exploitative use of technology that threatened their livelihoods. They saw that technology was being used to consolidate power and generate immense wealth for factory owners, while driving down wages and worsening working conditions for workers. The Luddite rebellion, characterized by smashing machines, was a response to the lack of protection and support from the government, which was aligned with industrialists. Despite their short-term successes in restoring wages and gaining concessions, the Luddites were ultimately crushed by state power and industry. The Luddite movement highlights the need for democratic inputs in technology development and deployment, collective bargaining by the exploited, building class consciousness, and the moral justification for opposing technology that perpetuates exploitation.