R' Micha Berger wrote:
> We really don't see that halakhah endorses slavery.
> Rather, that HQBH saw fit to regulate it rather than
> prohibit it. Certainly the need for such legislation
> shows a dissatisfaction with the idea. So, why isn't
> there an actual issur?

HQBH also saw fit to regulate eating. Does the need for that 
legislation show dissatisfaction with the idea? I don't think so.

I think (hope?) we can all agree that Eishes Yefas To'ar *IS* an 
example of something which the Torah allows but only grudgingly. I 
really don't think that eating is an example of that. And this 
discussion is about where the line is located, and on which side of 
that line slavery falls.

Akiva Miller