Portrayal of MoM in the series VERY LONG BEWARE

[Ceridwen]

No: HPFGUIDX 178815

Alla:
> I also think that even good people working at the Ministry 
> get sucked in the atmosphere of corruption of power, no 
> matter how harmless it is to me on the grand scale of things. 
> I love Weasleyscby and large, no matter if I sometimes have 
> Molly's issues and Arthur I just love. But eh, writing a law 
> and make a loophole to be able to amuse oneself with 
> muggle car seems just wrong to me.

Ceridwen:
Yes, it is wrong that Arthur writes a law to benefit himself at the 
expense of the spirit or intent of said law.  It doesn't hurt anyone 
physically, but it hurts the society.  Society functions on laws and 
government, to one extent or another.  Even if the "law" is a 
collection of etiquette, even if the "government" is a parent.  When 
laws are written to benefit a few - in this case, Arthur and 
presumably others who want to play with Muggle cars - that means they 
are placed above the rest of society.  Society becomes unequal.

That is the corruption of power.  Arthur doesn't mean to add to the 
imbalance, he's just going along with the way everyone sees the 
society.  If you work for the Ministry, you put in long days, but you 
get certain perks, such as the law turning a blind eye to your 
hobbies.  Someone gives you tickets to a Quidditch match.  I get the 
impression this is not seen as something wrong in this society.  
People accept it because that's the way it's always been.  The haves, 
or those who work at the Ministry, are on a different level than 
everyone else.  They are "more equal".

If Arthur can do it and get away with it, someone else can do the 
same thing that actually will hurt someone.  Katie mentioned that 
former DEs probably went for jobs in the Ministry after LV's first 
fall because that's where the power was (and is).  That makes a lot 
of sense to me.  There were thirteen years between the first fall and 
Voldy's reconstitution.  Some of these guys were probably in cushy 
positions by the time he returned.  If Arthur's writing laws to 
benefit him, I can imagine the once and former DEs are doing the 
same.  Their beneficial laws will hurt others.  Look at Dolores 
Umbridge's laws, and her edicts at Hogwarts, and she isn't a DE.  

Alla:
> Of course Arthur does not get to be a personal guest of 
> Minister of magic, he is stuck in the job with low pay 
> for years...

Ceridwen:
Arthur is head of a department.  His pay isn't low, his expenses are 
high.  The Weasleys have seven children to put through school.  Even 
if they get some financial assistance as Tom Riddle did, the Board 
will expect them to at least foot some of the bill since Arthur is 
working.  Now that we know of exceptions to magic, we know that the 
Weasleys have to buy food for seven children with large appetites, 
clothe them, provide shelter, provide utilities like light and water 
(candles and lamp fluid cost money anyway, not sure if they have 
access to a well), and they have seven birthdays besides their own to 
buy for, and seven children expecting Christmas gifts (yarn costs 
money), so their outlay eats into Arthur's income.

I wouldn't suggest Molly go to work, either.  A baby-sitter or child-
minder would cost more than her income for even four children, which 
may be all they need tended at one time, given the ages.  I know 
that, for me, back when I was a single parent of two, it was a 
financial burden to go to work.  I know that now, even if our income 
stays the same, the minute the younger two are out of the house we'll 
be in pretty good condition.  The Weasleys should have had a gradual 
easing of their financial problems as each child left home.  The 
problem is, once you get used to living on a shoestring for more than 
a decade, it's hard to realize you can actually spend.

Ceridwen.