[eat_veggies]

Do you understand the difference between starting an engine and keeping it running? I'm referring to northern wealth btw.

> Where were the industries in the South? Where were the industries in South America?

They weren't there precisely because slave labor was so profitable that they did not see the need to industrialize.

> Why did the South secede to protect their economy from the North?

The south seceded in order to protect the institution of slavery.

> Take a look at contemporary photos and paintings of the North and South before 1865

Good thing we don't measure wealth by photos and paintings, and instead we have census data. Be serious, think about why an economy based on slave labor and agriculture would not build a network of railroads even if they had the money for it.

[WalterBright]

> Good thing we don't measure wealth by photos and paintings

Do you really think that photos and paintings are all lies?

> Be serious, think about why an economy based on slave labor and agriculture would not build a network of railroads even if they had the money for it.

I'm sorry, I can't take that comment seriously.

> slave labor was so profitable that they did not see the need to industrialize

Or that one. Sorry.

The South was so profitable they could not finance their military. The North did easily.

[eat_veggies]

If you recall, the original contention was that "You cannot make money off of people who are starving." Clearly you can—in the short term, and enabled by violent coercion, as you've helpfully added.

My argument summed up is that slavery was a "local maximum" that A) generated an enormous amount of wealth early on, and was thus a crucial factor in developing the American economy, even if it was no longer the main driver of wealth by the time of the civil war, and B) made it unattractive for the south to risk seeking a global maximum (investing in industrialization) a strategic misstep for sure.

It's clear which strategy wins long term, I don't think that's a debate. I should have phrased my earlier comment better, sorry.