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Politics : View from the Center and Left -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: TimF who wrote (74736)	7/3/2008 8:55:39 PM
From: JohnM	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 543087

The predominate view is that they saw technology as the main danger to the livelihood. I believe (but only have the Wikipedia article to go on, so its not like I'm confident about it) that Thompson's opinion is that they saw the lifting of restrictions on trade and prices as the main threat to their livelihood. Tim, it's been a very long time since I read Thompson and I don't think that little bit on the Wikipedia Luddite entry does justice to the complicated views he had. The summary is not objectionable, just not rich enough. As for your question, my memory of Thompson's argument is that he focused on the Luddite anger over the reorganization of work. In effect, their loss of livelihood. I barely recall several instances in which he argued that new technology was introduced with no objection from the Luddites. Just so long as the mode of its introduction did not threaten their livelihood. To be repetitious.