Chapter Fourteen of HBP; aka Lupinlore's Big OOPS

[hogsheadbarmaid]

No: HPFGUIDX 128692

> > Lupinlore again:
> > 
> > Also, JKR has a very negative view of government.  She might find 
> > having a simpleton chosen for Minister at the moment of crisis to 
> be amusing, and perhaps even true to life (speculating on her views 
> > here, not stating my own).
> > *******************
> > 
> > How do you know this?  I don't recall hearing her speak of a 
> general negativity toward government.
> 
> GEO: However her portrayal of the Ministry in general is usually 
> quite negative and we see throughout the series the rampant 
> corruption(Arthur Weasley trading favors for Quidditch Tickets, the 
> trading of gold for political favors as seen with Lucius Malfoy and 
> Fudge), disregard for the personal rights of the citizens(Umbridge 
> and the dementors and her attempts to use the Cruciatus curse on 
> Harry, Bagman using his position to try and get out of debt 
> and Crouch sending Sirius Black to Azkaban without a trial not to 
> mention obliviating the mind of Bertha Jorkins) and being generally 
> ineffective and unresponsive(Harry being cited for Dobby's hover 
> charm and also Fudge's refusal to believe in the return of 
> Voldemort) and going to the extremes in order to preserve order(the 
> use of unforgivables on Death Eaters).


Barmaid now:

While it does seem that JKR shows some dislike for bureaucracy, and 
certainly likes to mock ineptitude, I am not sure that we know how 
she feels about "government" in general.  I have questions about a 
couple of your examples.

a)  While you may see the story of Arthur and the Quidditch tickets 
as corruption I do not recall there being anything negative in the 
presentation of this event in canon, in fact it seemed to be a good 
thing.  

b)  Is there canon to support that the use of unforgivables was 
actually officially sanctioned??

       --Barmaid