Disclosure

The movement began in Nottingham, England around 1811, named after the mythical leader Ned Ludd. These weren’t anti-technology peasants—they were skilled artisans who understood their craft intimately. Before resorting to machine-breaking, they tried negotiation. They even proposed alternatives, like a textile tax to fund workers’ pensions, demonstrating remarkable economic sophistication.

What made the Luddites unique was their clear-eyed analysis of power. They didn’t object to tech itself, but to its deployment within exploitative economic structures. When technology helped them do their jobs better, they welcomed it. When it enriched factory_owners at workers’ expense, they resisted. This wasn’t irrational fear but rational opposition to a system designed to extract maximum value from their labor.