Given an opportunity to explain his earlier, explosive comments downplaying the significance of modern-day slavery in Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services spokesperson Terence McElroy chose to dig himself — and Governor Crist, whom he represents — an even deeper hole. Here’s what he wrote in an email to a reporter from the Ft. Myers News-Press when asked for his response to the groundswell of criticism of his earlier comments:

“… “To a question (about) whether this was a common or accepted practice, I said that it certainly was not — and, in fact, is quite a rarity when a case pops up.” (emphasis added)

You can see the latest article, “Ag spokesperson McElroy’s statements spur buzz,” by clicking here.

“quite a rarity… “ Really? We invite Mr. McElroy to join us in a short thought experiment.

Imagine that, ten years ago, a violent slavery ring is uncovered within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Hundreds of state workers are discovered being systematically beaten, sexually assaulted, and forced to work at the point of a gun for no pay by a supervisor employed by the department. When the ringleaders are prosecuted and sentenced to 15 years in prison, what would you say, Mr. McElroy, to the press? How would you characterize the suffering of the victims?

The following year, another case is discovered in your department. And the following year another case is discovered. And the following year another case is discovered. And the following year another case is discovered. And the following year another case is discovered.

In the course of 10 years, a total of well over 1,000 workers in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have been liberated from bosses who regularly beat them, forced them to work, and stole their pay. More than a dozen bosses are behind bars. And by any honest estimate, the cases and workers discovered in servitude represent only the tip of the iceberg.

When yet another case is discovered in your department, would you stand before the press and say that this seventh case of slavery is “quite a rarity”?

It’s hard to believe — no, impossible to believe — that you would.

Given that very safe assumption, what we would like to know is: What, in your mind, is the difference between the human rights of the workers in your department and the rights of the workers who harvest our crops in the fields? Are the workers in the fields somehow less human? We’ll leave that question open for reflection.

And one final thing: The slavery cases you refer to have in fact taken place on the farms of some of this state’s most “legitimate growers,” to use your words, including the former head of the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. Look it up.