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Just like Abraham Lincoln! Don't you hate it how he got into that whole American Civil War when slavery was going to be abolished anyway? I mean, it was histori
by blurry 18y ago
Just like Abraham Lincoln! Don't you hate it how he got into that whole American Civil War when slavery was going to be abolished anyway? I mean, it was historically inevitable, so what was the point. Ugh.
- tjic 18y agoActually, even though you're being sarcastic, you make an excellent point. The British Empire had just abolished slavery, Brazil had peacefully abolished slavery - the changing economics were lowering the benefit of owning slaves, and increasing the cost. If it hadn't been for the Dred Scott decision, the costs of owning slaves (because running away would be quite attractive) would have been even higher. If Lincoln was such a genius, why is it that the US is the only country that had a civil war over the issue, and lost over 600,000 men, with another 400,000 or so wounded and disabled ... out of a population of 31 million (that's over 3% of the entire nation either dead or wounded). Between the riots in Northern cities, the economic decimation of the South, the suspension of the free press, the jailing of political opponents, the drafts and the deaths ... yes, maybe Lincoln should have found a way to kick the issue down the road 10 or 15 years.
- blurry 18y agoCompletely agree with you, tjic, war is never the answer. I was simply making a point in response to the previous post and this was the first example that popped in my mind.