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simianwordsyesterday at 8:14 PM1 replyview on HN

The mainstream conclusion is that the luddites were speaking for their own economic safety mainly along with other things.


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dijityesterday at 8:17 PM

Every party in the dispute was acting out of economic self-interest: the manufacturers wanted cheaper labour and higher margins, Parliament wanted industrial growth.

Only the workers are getting framed as though self-interest invalidates their position. The Luddites’ arguments about quality standards and consumer fraud were correct on the merits regardless of their motivation for raising them.

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