No, slavery is gone forever. Too inefficient. But we are heading back to share-cropping. No raise in the minimum wage since for almost 10 years; doing away with the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirement for Hurricane Katrina federal contracts; tightening bankruptcy standards; individual accounts for Social Security and medical costs and soon-to-begin slashing of federal programs; more responsibility dumped on states and localities (which are easier to control). No, not slavery; but then share-cropping always was a better system anyway.

Under share-cropping you have all of the benefits, but none of the costs. Under slavery you actually had to take care of the people or you lost your investment. Under share-cropping, if the individual does not produce, or gets sick or disabled, you just kick them off and find someone who can produce. Besides, under slavery you had responsibility for non-productive assets (children, aged, etc.). No, with share-cropping you just sit back and collect the rents, with your only care making sure no-one actually accumulated enough to get loose. Of course we call it under new titles like "individual responsibility" and "taking charge of your own life."

Truth is, the North lost the war when we convinced you all that Labor Unionist and Big-Government Liberal were about as close as you can get to calling somebody a m&*^@r-f*&!#r in mixed company. Your collective security system is gone, but we are keeping ours. You all derisively call it the "Good-ole Boy Network," but believe me it is doing fine.