Mr Harris have you published any books? If so please share them here, I'd love to read them!

I'm having a hard time picturing you as a plumber, a writer yes but if you are really a plumber your the smartest plumber I've ever seen! I have yet to see the movie, guess I will go today!

Adam and Joey, highly overestimating here! While the movie might be moving and the mores of the mid 19th century might be hard for us to understand, slavery of all races had been accepted practice for centuries, so don't be too quick to judge. The "slavery of Mr. Walton" a highly overblown statement and not true. Wal-Mart and many huge companies are employers of people who would otherwise be on welfare and unable to improve their image. THAT is slavery! Mr. Harris does nothing more than condemn something he does not understand and perpetuate class and race warfare and division. Going back to the Civil War Mr. Harris?

Mr or Mrs or Ms Dunedin Observer, you may want to removed the name "Observer" from your name. You seem to have difficulty with reading, comprehending and context. My compliment was a turn of a phrase. Did they not cover that where you attended school? I've read many of your comments and enjoy laughing at each and every one. In response to dear sweet Maryellen, Slavery is the act of forcing another to do something against their will, something many corporations have become experts at. So I disagree with Mr. Harris, he should of sited many others not just Wal-mart.

Mr Harris, while I enjoyed the read, I think you should go back further to show more of the history of slavery and how it has been the downfall for so many civilizations. Just not sure the average reader will pick up on that connection without it.

Thank you for your comments, the intention was to spark conversation. Yes you are right Maryellen slavery has been around a long time but no it has never been accepted, it has been tolerated, condoned and perpetuated but never accepted. Slavery has been one the key components that cause most great societies to fail. Slavery is a bit of a symptom rather than root cause. The fact that one human would lord over another for profit, in my opinion speaks volumes about the psych of the one doing the lording. Once again, thank you for you comments.

According to Dictionary.com, the following is the definition as well as synonyms of slavery, none of which refer to gainful employment. If you're uneducated, yes, your work is going to be worth less than if you have an education. It seems to me that you all would like to make lots of money for very little labor.
slav·er·y [sley-vuh-ree, sleyv-ree] Show IPA
noun
1.
the condition of a slave; bondage.
2.
the keeping of slaves as a practice or institution.
3.
a state of subjection like that of a slave: He was kept in slavery by drugs.
4.
severe toil; drudgery.
1. thralldom, enthrallment. Slavery, bondage, servitude refer to involuntary subjection to another or others. Slavery emphasizes the idea of complete ownership and control by a master: to be sold into slavery. Bondage indicates a state of subjugation or captivity often involving burdensome and degrading labor: in bondage to a cruel master. Servitude is compulsory service, often such as is required by a legal penalty: penal servitude. 4. moil, labor.

Maryellen, I was going to post the same thing in my blog but thought it would be to much. Thank you for proving my point. This is exactly what Wal-Mart and others do. I'm sorry you are unfamiliar with the fact that slave ships were traded in long ago for buses from Mexico and sweat shops with no exits right here in America. I'm sorry you are unfamiliar with how the law continues to subject so many to no chance at the American dream and punishes citizens differently depending on where you live, what race or sex you are and locks you away because you don't have the proper means to defend yourself.
Don't you just love that line from Scrooge, how does it go?......are their no prisons no workhouses?
Just food for thought.

So I guess when my family members were at Auschwitz they were there for spa treatments? They were transported there against there will, held and made to work against their will and killed. Maryellen your idea of slavery is way off base. I make over $250,000 a year with a degree, my nephew makes over $500,000.00 a year and he only finished the 11th grade so no, education does not dictate low pay. Poor people can and do think too. Education is no excuse for treating someone poorly. Wal-Mart employees are treated like slaves and their products are made by slaves labor. Please stop making excuses for the horrid behavior of greedy corporations.

So now Walmart is slavery? I didn't realize people were forced to work there.. Everyone can't work for the government can they?
Somehow profit and a capitalistic society really bothers the liberal folks who want everyone to win, live in the same type house, and all get the same paycheck. America was made greaT by competition. Let the government run things and we overpay for everything. Walmart is fine. If you don't like it, don;t work or shop there. It is called freedom of choice.

I beg to differ with you Dunedin Observer, America was made great by individuals using their talents and working together to make this country great, case in point, "The Greatest Generation" was my grandfather's when the country set aside it's differences and helped win a world war. When we come together there is nothing we cannot accomplish but when we choose to push each other away there is nothing we will accomplish but discord. We are not conservatives or liberals we are Americans. The government is run by those we elect so we run the government. Our government at times needs to be large and at other times it needs to be small. Being American is far more important than being rich or turning a profit. Equality, in this context, does not mean having the same things and has nothing to do with material goods, but has everything to do with being American. I believe in America, and I always will. Freedom and equality are worthless without each other.