Many Southern Plantation owners were working towards the day when they could convert their investment to more profitable industrial production as had been done in the North, and others felt that freemen who were paid wages would be more efficient than slaves who had no incentive to work. For the present, however, they were stuck with the system they inherited. They felt that a complete and sudden abolition of slavery with no transition period would destroy their economy and leave many of the former slaves to starve - all of which actually happened in due course.
G. Edward GriffinThere is no time in American history in which there was more economic conflict between segments of the population than there was prior to the Civil War.
G. Edward GriffinError is better than apathy. Error can be corrected in time to change the outcome. Apathy is seldom corrected until it is too late.
G. Edward GriffinFirst, it is providing a means whereby key individuals on its payroll are able to obtain both power and wealth through granting special favors to certain politically influential groups that are subject to its regulation. This activity is similar to the 'protection racket' of organized crime: for a price, one can induce FDA administrators to provide 'protection' from the FDA itself.
G. Edward Griffin