UP FRONT

By Richard Mandel
Editor in Chief

Luddite Lullaby

Is it possible to be a reform Luddite? Not reformed…I mean just a little anti-technology. Yesterday, my six-year-old and I were re-organizing the week’s yard-full of yellow-gold-brown leaves from the maples and elms. As I stood knee-deep with my mighty 28-in. swath plastic rake, a neighbor called over and offered the use of her leaf blower. Now, I have a power mower, which is swapped during winter for the snowblower, so I already contribute aplenty to the weekend yardworking cacophony. But there’s a stubborn streak that declares, No, here’s my line in the sand. My yard isn’t huge and unwieldy, and there’s a nice feel as the tines scratch the soil, the leaves flying softly into the waning autumn sunlight. I thanked my neighbor and raked on, thinking.

For at least three hundred years the weavers from in and around the central English town of Nottingham, though commoners, enjoyed the status and rewards accorded to fine craftsmen. Their products were hand made, not in factories but in the weaver’s home. The early automation of the power loom, in the first years of the 19th century, threatened this long-standing way of life. Because the new equipment was expensive, the weavers could not afford to purchase it themselves and the balance of power shifted away from the weavers to favor factory owners. Simultaneously the Tory government adopted a laissez-faire economic policy. The weavers had to endure a drastic decrease in income and to submit to the regimented and unpleasant atmosphere of a factory, while the price for their food, drink, and other necessities of life increased. Weavers complained bitterly that the machines made mass-produced products of shamefully inferior quality. Machine technology became the powerful tool of the new oppressor, the factory owner.

In the early months of 1811 British workers, upset by wage reductions and the use of unapprenticed workmen, began breaking into factories at night to destroy the new machines. The unrest and actions against factories spread to other towns. Wheat prices soared in 1812. Unable to feed their families, desperate workers started food riots, in addition to the actions against factory machines. The military was called up to intervene. Finally, after many arrests, trials, and a few further sporadic outbreaks of violence, the Luddite movement, um, technically ceased to be active by 1817.

Shy of 200 years later, populations have increased while the factory machines have advanced further. Fewer people are needed to operate today’s factory that can run 24/7, while much of the unskilled labor is performed cheaper overseas. There was once a vision for this day, that men could contemplate philosophy and good works as hard labors diminished. The reality is much different. At least design work still requires a minimum of 3 lbs of cranial meat to occur. Word processing may have grammar- and spell-check, but it will be a while until AutoCAD has a Raymond Loewy- or Harley Earl-style function.

However, this issue is the last one in the calendar year, and we should go out with light hearts and positive thoughts. This year the Galileo satellite ended a phenomenal mission, visiting Venus, asteroids, and Jupiter and the Jovian moons. The first Voyager satellite crossed the boundary separating our solar system from the big Out There, on its way to a future rendezvous with starship NCC-1701. The Great 2003 Blackout in the Northeast took place in August, rather than the winter months. My good friend Bruce came down with Guillain-Barre Syndrome this year, and has already made a nearly-complete recovery. Another friend survived a stroke. My car battery expired, but it was in my driveway, during dry weather — a combination of circumstances in Cleveland that should have had me running to the nearest lottery vendor.

May your holidays see you in comfort and joy, surrounded by friends and family, and let the coming year be one of Peace.