Michael's version of slavery is more a mealy-mouthed definition of indentured labour (
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indentured_servant). In a truly benign state, nobody could be born into slavery.
Slavery is merely an aspect of of a society that has an explicit belief in the superiority of one person over another as
birthright, usually with the claimed endorsement of a deity and always backed up by force.
I'm with local man Samuel Wilson who, prior to a regal visit to the town, "was summoned for being drunk and disorderly in Northgate-street on June 20th 1914. Sgt Thomas said some men were talking about the King’s visit and the defendant said he was as good a man as the ------ King, and he did not want to see him. A fine of 5s. and 7s. 6d. costs was imposed." Worth every penny.
That's why I don't like empires.