Quote Originally Posted by gugi View Post
Seriously, you don't find the 3/5th text of the constitution a really perverse incentive towards expansion of slavery?

Here it is how it works in practice:

The more slaves I own, the more 40% tax discount I get (remember I get to have everything they produce minus the costs to keep them alive) and more political representation I get (remember they do not get the vote, I get to vote on their behalf - may be not literally but effectively in a group interest way).

Let's not switch between moral and legal whenever it is convenient - US claimed its right to existence on moral grounds, to right a number of injustices including taxation without representation. It simply failed to live to that from the start and had full knowledge of this moral failure (yes the founding fathers themselves called it amoral, including Jefferson when he was speaking on behalf of the country as president).
Answer to first question: No

Legal and moral are two different things, so there is no switching between the two. Another false argument.

Failed to live to what from the start? To right the injustices of King George against the American colonies?