Slavery is good, they say

Slavery is a normal condition in human society. The strong chain the weak and make them work for them. The few but organised enslave the many. The group with the most advanced weapons enslaves the others with no weapons.

Before slavery was really considered a crime against humanity (or humans, to be precise), many argued for its maintenance. Some of the main arguments are summarised here, including:

• Slavery has always existed
• Every society in the past has had slavery
• The slaves can't take care of themselves
• Free people are worse off than slaves
• Getting rid of slavery will require violence
• Slaves can be made well off by providing them with free housing, good clothes and regular meals. Why take this away from them?

Does any of the above sound familiar? For me, its all the arguments we hear today against abolishing the welfare state and further the state altogether.

For me it sounds like we are told that we are worse off free than as enslaved citizens.

For me it sounds like I am being told: You are bound within the state, and are better off like this, since the state has always existed and men without a state cannot take care of themselves without inflicting violence on each other.

I say: Bullshit!