Some canon related WOMBAT wonderings/ some questions from the test

[Rick & LeAnn Kelley]

No: HPFGUIDX 170296

Regarding questions 3 & 4:

I chose as the ministry decision with the most damaging effect on every day
wizard life to be the defeat of the appeal against house-elf slavery. It may
not be outwardly apparent, but IMHO any society which allows slavery sets
the stage for decay from within. Number one, it reinforces the Purebloods'
own ideas of superiority which led to Voldemort's rise in the first place.
Number two, it destroys the potential intellectual, artistic, and social
contributions from house elves who are allowed only to function as unskilled
labor. Number three, it allows the ruling class to become fat and lazy, both
physically and mentally and more likely to choose the easy way even if it's
wrong. I think it's most damaging because we don't see its effects
immediately.

As far as choosing the ban against non-humans carrying wands, I can see
major problems if giants, dementors, trolls, and others who often support
dark wizards were given the power of wands. The giants used DD's magical
gifts to kill each other. Trolls would probably accidentally lop off their
own ears. Most of the intelligent non-humans - goblins and house elves, for
example - have other ways of using magic without wands. 

I agree with others that leaving the Goblins in charge of Gringott's makes
sense because it partially appeased them for past wrongs, plus it takes the
business of finance out of ministry hands where someone would surely put
their hand in the till where it didn't belong. (I can picture the MOM's
savings campaign: "Sleep well, knowing your future financial security is in
the hands of Ludo Bagman.")

Thank you for listening to my ramblings.
Anders