"total ignorance of the facts" WHOSE set of facts, Greg?

"Pick up a few books....." I have. Several. Many of them contradictory in evidence and conclusions. Your rant reminds me of a Uni student who has had one course from a single professor and has latched onto that as the answer. Oh, and Foner's book is one of the ones my shelf, I read it 10 years or so ago.

"The condition of slavery BY DEFINITION brutalizes the slave.." In the American model, generally, in certain instances elsewhere, sometimes, as a general rule.... Well, to quote an expert - "Pick up a few books....."