If the miners showed signs of dissension they were roughed up and forced into compliance by hired thugs. There was little room for personal opinion. .
The only government presence in Matewan found personification in the Sheriff and the Mayor. The Sheriff, who represented the only form of law in town, tried to keep the hired thugs in line within the town, which highlights the role that democratic governments have in acquiring freedom and stresses the importance of visible government authority. Yet it is not enough for the government to be visible or simply present, it must also be effective and strong. Ultimately the government presence in Matewan proved to be too weak and the citizens of Matewan were forced to organize and revolt in order to establish a union. .
Although Norma Rae presents a more capitalistic society, in which the workers in the town have a choice as to where they work, this "choice" is not much better. Just like in Matewan, the only concern of the O.P. Henley Mills Textile Factory is the profit margin, regardless of how poor the working conditions might be. Norma Rae, fed up the over-working, unfair treatment and lack of concern towards the employees wants change. When high production leading to high profits is the only motive of a company - this is bound to happen. .
In situations like the one in Norma Rae and Matewan, often the best solution is to form a union. Unionizing the workers is the one sure-fire method to stop this exploitation, because unions exercise control over the working conditions, pay, and treatment of the employees. However, they also cut into the profits of the companies by enforcing higher standards in the aforementioned areas. This makes forming unions very difficult, especially when industry monopolies limit job options, and the risk of being fired (a common company strategy for deterring unions), is too great a risk for the working poor.