“The Shire at this time had hardly any ‘government.’ Families for the most part managed their own affairs. ... The Thain was the master of the Shire-moot, and captain of the Shire-muster and the Hobbitry-in-arms, but as a muster and moot were only held in times of emergency, which no longer occurred, the Thainship had ceased to be more than a nominal dignity.”

Sounds like night-watch libertarianism that had declined to something even more minimal. Which ironically was easily run over by a smooth-talking old man with a broken staff and a pretty small bunch of ruffians. You had one job.

[–] exocrinous@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Yeah but he had fireworks though

[–] mellowheat@suppo.fi 1 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

I think at that point all he had was smooth talking.

Like if we could imagine a president who tried to regain his power by usurping, failed and lost all his power, and then somehow is allowed to try again. Aren't we glad LOTR is just fantasy, that'd be horrible.

[–] exocrinous@lemm.ee 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I would argue Gandalf uses not smooth talking, but fast talking. He does whatever he wants before the hobbits have even mustered up the indignation to say no. That's what happens at the beginning of the Hobbit. The book says most of the respectable hobbits hated Gandalf and only the children and the adventurous liked him, and nobody respected the adventurous hobbits all too much, Bagginses and their wealth not withstanding.

[–] imaqtpie@lemmy.myserv.one 1 points 9 months ago

Pretty sure the person you're responding to is referring to Saruman infiltrating the Shire at the end of the series, not Gandalf.

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