I'd like to throw an alternative perspective in here: in olden times it was a clearer us-vs-them. The peasants knew that the lord sucked and would support each

I'd like to throw an alternative perspective in here: in olden times it was a clearer us-vs-them. The peasants knew that the lord sucked and would support each other against him. The miners knew that management was awful. There would be that group support. Plus, they'd have more sources of meaning outside their jobs. Today, everything is set up for workers to pretend like they're company owners (without real Shares or protection from the downsides of being an employee). Today, the boss has less control over the physical body, but more control over the story that workers tell themselves.