[Smokin' Joe]

From a serf's perspective, it is. But among the lords of the manor, within that priveledged class, it's just 'bidness'.

In their minds, they are the elite, the only real humans.

The rest, the 'great unwashed' and 'unenlightened' mean nothing to them--less, even than livestock, which can be sold for a profit. The lower class, the sub-humans, exist solely as a useable resource, to be managed, worked, and taxed, and cajoled or even flogged into submission if necessary.

[saveliberty]

See? That's why it's not capitalism as people are not for sale. A person has ownership of his or her services and enters into a contract freely. Or declines the contract.

:-)