Ummmmm, Ron, if you have a problem with the thread drift then quit debating your positions... All that does is insure the drift

Now, a blanket statement that former slaves were better off "free" after 1865 isn't completely true either... While slavery was a repulsive system slaves were treated as assets... Many former slaves, especially after 1876, were treated worse as free than they had ever been treated as assests... Most, yes, were better off but to say they were all better off is a groos misrepresentation...

As for evidence??? That seems be to your red herring position... Of course it can't be proved inspite of the abolitionist's movement of the '50's, John Brown's raid, etc... But again, this argument fits neatly with demanding that Saddam didn'ty have WND's... It is a speculative position which can be turned around... I could ask you to prove that slavery wouldn't have evoloved out...

Now, I believe that we are just restating our repective opionions here... Our posiitions aren't revealing anything new to the discussion of the elections and unless yet another rebuttal is lodged, I'd be more than happy to let the drift die out and the election discussion continue...

I have mentioned the 1828 election as well as the 1968 election as ones that have some juiceiness to them...

Peace

Bobert