“Rowling’s Harry Potter books, up to and including The Half-Blood Prince, slowly but surely build an impregnable invective against government, while still telling charming fantasy stories about witches and wizards at a school for magic …. The libertarian movement relies upon two interrelated concepts to recruit: (a) ‘[t]hat government is best which governs least;’ and (b) self-reliance and respect of individual rights should be paramount. The Half-Blood Prince makes both of these points exceptionally well. Rowling taps into the current general distrust of government in the United States and the United Kingdom and creates a Ministry of Magic that simultaneously echoes and critiques our own governments. On the one hand, she creates a government that is repulsive in its structure, personnel, and actions. On the other, she crafts this government to appear closely related to our own government. This juxtaposition creates a powerful and subtle critique of government.” [editor’s note: In case you missed this when it was written - MLS] (04/12/06)