Feudalism in Form

Feudalism in Form

Environmental enslavement? Governmental capitalism? Working-class feudalism? In a complex world it is often impossible to label any one system with certainty, economic or otherwise. So the question arises of how does one explain past events and phenomenon without getting bogged down in the ensuing details? It becomes a matter of perspective- acknowledging that each individual or group sees certain events in a specific way, and that it takes multiple versions of a story to build a picture that might more fully represent the "bigger" picture.

This explains how one film describing the economic events in a small town in Virginia in the 1920's can be riddled with questions and able to ignite explosive debates. Matewan was a small town in the hills of Virginia. The town itself was composed largely of native-born citizens, immigrant groups and racial groups from varied backgrounds. However, one thing common to most all citizens was the fact that their survival depended on the Stone Mountain Coal Company for which the men worked. From the first day of employment these individuals and families became dependent upon the company with no other possible alternatives.

The first step the company took to ensure the economic feudalism of its workers was to indebt these workers to the company from the start. The workers were charged for all of their tools (picks, axes, head lamps, etc.) as well as any goods they might have needed for immediate survival (food, clothing) and long-term survival (shelter). This list of goods most likely carried exorbitant price tags, making it virtually impossible to ever 'own' any of the goods loaned from the company and therefore accumulate any type of capital. This indebtedness also maintained employment, despite hazardous conditions (collapsing mines, coal dust in one's lungs) that could lead to premature death. One could hardly "quit" from Stone Mountain Coal, for all the resources necessary for one's survival would be taken back, and all debts to the company would have to be repaid- an impossibility due to the extremely low wages paid. If one tried to run away then one would be considered a criminal and a warrant for one's arrest could be issued. Also the remoteness of the town made this an unlikely senario, where would one run to considering they had more than likely come by train? Lastly without the knowledge of how to survive by oneself in the woods one could not join the people who lived off the land in the woods.