No. There isn’t.

I wanted to kick things back off with a bang, so I visited classical literature to dig out this installment’s victim. We’re going to examine the Canadian political leanings of a man who can’t even agree with himself on most issues.

Dr. Henry Jekyll

DID poster boy

Star of: Classical literature
First Appearance: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (novella)
Likes: Science, philanthropy
Dislikes: Himself
Bio: A morally conflicted chemist with a mean-streak so strong it kills him.

1. Science

At his core, Dr. Jekyll is a man of science, a man of vision. He is a brilliant man, trying to drive society forward with innovation.

I wouldn’t even go so far as to call Henry a “mad” scientist. He was very rational in his desire to make people better with his invention. It was the unexpected fallout of that good intention that ultimately led to regret.

Dr. Jekyll would be very much in favour of support for science, research and innovation in any capacity, with an eye toward the altruistic. However, he’d also want few government restrictions, and little oversight – he might be a idealistic scientician, but he’s also not going to let little things like “safety” or “ethics” stop him.

For Science!

You can’t make delicious Eggs Benedict without breaking a few laws.

2. Social Security

Dr. Jekyll is a man who struggles with his own morals and ethics, yes – but ultimately he tries to rise above his demons. One of those ways is through philanthropy – he donates to worthy causes and helps to uplift the downtrodden.

But, there’s another side to this. While Henry is committed to donating his own time and money to worthy causes, he does it by his own choice. It’s fairly plain that he wouldn’t feel right forcing that choice on others. Certainly, he’d encourage them to give to charity – but he would be opposed to making them do it.

Jekyll is also a man who values hard work, with a “do it yourself” attitude.

He’d be against charities that don’t aim to help the needy get back on their feet.

3. Traditional Values

Notwithstanding the fact that Dr. Jekyll is a Victorian gentleman – and thus living in a heavily repressed society – he’s clearly a man who prefers a more “conservative” approach to life.

Henry would be appalled at many aspects of our modern society, from our mode of dress to the cavalier use of crude language.

He'd be especially horrified by this guy.

I honestly don’t think Jekyll would even consider it an imposition to pass laws that would reign in some of what he would consider society’s excesses.

Verdict:

Dr. Henry Jekyll is a gentleman, a scholar, and a voter who’d side with the Tories. He’d be a fan of smaller government, so that his research could continue without much federal meddling, and a supporter of calls to return of traditional family values, for the betterment of civilization.

But we aren’t exactly through, are we? Dr. Jekyll isn’t the only person in here with an opinion on politics.

So we turn things over to…

Mr. Edward Hyde

Sinister alter-ego

Star of: Classical literature
First Appearance: The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (novella)
Likes: Fine canes, freedom, the ladies
Dislikes: Dr. Jekyll
Bio: A free spirit living without moral conflict, who prowls the night looking for love. Also murder.

1. Crime and Punishment

Mr. Hyde is a criminal in the most literal possible sense. He wantonly engages in extortion (of himself, admittedly), identity theft (again, of himself), and murder. And yes, he arguably even manages to do that last one to himself.

A libertarian without a moral compass, Hyde is a man who lives in the margins of society, so he’d want to keep those margins as wide as possible. He’d be in support of any efforts to curtail law enforcement in the name of expanded personal freedoms.

He can appreciate the occasional caning, though.

2. Social Security

A hedonist, Mr. Hyde isn’t exactly filled with a desire to do hard work for a living. In fact, he fully intended to live off of Dr. Jekyll’s fortune – probably subsidized by the proceeds of his criminal adventures – which he extorted from the good doctor.

So government handouts would be something right up his alley.

On the other hand, Hyde wouldn’t exactly be a fan of paying taxes – he’s greedy, not generous, and his libertarian side would be loathe to give anything to big government without the promise of something in return.

Overall, it’s pretty safe to say that Mr. Hyde would happily be a welfare leech, if he figured he could get away with it.

3. Traditional Values

Many of the sinister activities “Edward” engages in during his existence are only hinted at… and suffer from serious values dissonance. Some of the actions Victorians would consider deplorable are not only tolerated in modern society, but welcome.

Speaking with a woman? Dressed like that? Alone!? MONSTER!

Actually, Mr. Hyde would probably love the modern world and the relative freedom it allows. Again, a man with a strong libertarian streak without a pesky moral compass to reign in his excess, he’d be very progressive in a social regard – the fewer laws reigning him in the better.

But whereas drugs, alcohol and sex are all getting acceptance, Mr. Hyde would probably have to curtail that whole “murder” hobby of his to be truly accepted by society.

Verdict:

I honestly don’t think Hyde would care enough about the environment to check a Green candidate, but he’d be very pleased with a party that’s pro-social freedom and pro-government handouts. The NDP might not be his ideal party, but he’d rather them than big government Liberals or hard-assed Conservatives – that’s for damned sure.

If you have an idea for a fictional victim for The Character Assassin, e-mail Scott, or send him a tweet with your suggestion.

Not the red one, the blue one.

Sonic

Erinaceus Hypersonicus

Star of: A series of video games, comic books and at least two animated series.
First Appearance: Sonic the Hedgehog (video game)
Likes: Running shoes, rings, chili dogs
Dislikes: Swimming, speed limits, robots
Bio: A super-fast drifter, who sticks his nose in other people’s business and then usually ends up wrecking a mad scientist’s stuff.

1. Human Rights

Excepting the fact that Sonic is not a “human”, he is a humanitarian. The guy is the defender of the underdog, taking the fight to anyone who would try to take advantage of someone else for their own gain.

Sonic is also not prejudiced. He gladly leaps into action on behalf of anyone who’s in need of help, hedgehog or no. Heck, his circle of best friends include a ham-fisted echidna and a mutant fox, so the guy doesn’t judge based on race.

Blue, red and yellow together. It's racial diversity in action.

For Sonic, everyone deserves their fair shake, and he aims to see they get it.

2. Globalization

Sonic’s adventures often see him running up against Dr. Robotnik/Eggman, a scientist dedicated to creating a perfect mechanized utopia. Robotnik, an industrialist, is working hard to bring together the world, for what he earnestly believes is it’s betterment (we’re not here to judge him or his methods.)

Obviously Sonic is opposed to this, as he is constantly battling against Robotnik’s efforts, and ruining his plans.

Also, wrecking his stuff.

Coupled with his humanitarian stance, it would seem that Sonic’s main problem with globalization is exploitation. But when you also factor in his strong sense of self determination, it may be more about his dislike of over control over his life.

3. The Environment

Sonic is an environmentalist. This is pretty self evident. Most of what we see of him involves pushing back the march of technology and he clearly has a dislike of anyone despoiling nature.

I’m also fairly certain he’s against carbon emissions. He seems like he’s big on eco-friendly transit, as evidenced by his preference for walking everywhere.

Although, he does have his own airplane...

4. Social Security

This is where Sonic’s more libertarian nature collides with his altruism.

On the one hand, Sonic has a strong sense of individual freedom and self-determination. He would hate big government, especially if it tramples on his liberties, and I wouldn’t expect him to be a big fan of taxes.

On the other hand, he roots for the little guy, and isn’t above charity. He’d want to give to the poor, and to ensure everyone can get access to medicine and a proper education.

It’s a tough decision for him, but in the end I suspect Sonic’s generosity would win out, and he’d rather see people get access to social services. Begrudgingly.

Verdict:

Sonic might be blue, but he’s voting green. Heck the NDP are too left-leaning for our super-speedster. The environmental, anti-big business and social justice platforms are just too in line with his beliefs for him to consider voting anything else.

If you have an idea for a fictional victim for The Character Assassin, e-mail Scott, or send him a tweet with your suggestion.

Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture

Cynical ex-Boy Adventurer

Star Of: An animated television series, currently in it’s fourth season.
First Appearance: Venture Bros. pilot episode “The Terrible Secret of Turtle Bay”
Likes: Women, money, “Diet Pills”
Dislikes: Adventure, Dr. Jonas Venture Sr., the Monarch
Bio: An idealistic boy-adventurer who’s grown up to be a narcissistic failure of a super scientist, father and human being.

1. The Economy

At the heart of most of Dr. Venture’s hair-brained science schemes is a very strong desire for money. Specifically, the desire for money that is earned with as little actual work as possible.

You’d expect that would give him a fairly liberal view of the economy, and you’d be totally wrong.

Dr. Venture is somewhat miserly, and very fiscally conservative. He cuts corners where he can, looks for cheap labour to reduce his overhead, and seeks out alternate ways to bring in more income (yard sale, taking on a boarder.) Heck, most of his “inventions” are just repackaged versions of his dad’s old stuff.

2. Human Rights

Remember that cheap labour I mentioned a moment ago? Yeah, Dr. Venture has no compunctions hiring illegal foreign workers that he can pay a slave’s wage to. To do dangerous mad-science work.

Oh, and that time he played God and brought a dead man back to life? Or how about the holographic chamber powered by the heart of a forsaken child?

Pictured: Forsaken Heart

This may be a by-product of being surrounded by danger and violence but Dr. Venture doesn’t put much value on other people (hell, he barely puts value on the lives of his own sons.) For Dr. Venture, life is cheap.

3. Family Values

Dr. Venture actually has a very traditional view of the family unit, with a very 50′s or 60′s sensibility. He wants his boys to grow up to be proper men and he tries to instill respect and good values into them.

On occasions we’ve seen him scold his sons for bad manners, giving him backtalk and for disrespect toward women. He’s also tried to be there for them – sometimes, usually awkwardly – to talk to them about girls, or sex, or drugs (specifically to warn them to stay away from all of them.) He’s even shown remorse over various physical and social difficulties his boys have faced.

In fact, it’s fairly clear that Dr. Venture wants Hank and Dean to grow up to be the men he isn’t. He doesn’t want to fail them the way his father failed him.

He’s… not doing so well…

4. National Defense

Dr. Venture is a super-scientist like his father before him. And like his father before him, he’s mainly a defense contractor. He’s invented fighting robots, a means of bringing the dead back to life to serve as soldiers, even a walking eye!

Walking Eye, people!

Living a life of constant peril, Dr. Venture also lives in a veritable fortress at the Venture compound. With an arch-enemy constantly gunning after him, as well as the various dangers associated with super -science, he understands the need for personal safety, and he takes it very seriously.

Very seriously indeed.

In practice, Dr. Venture believes in the “shock and awe” style of combat. Start with an unbelievable show of force in an effort to totally thwart the opposition, and if that doesn’t work… cowering in fear is a good second option.

Verdict:

Personal failings aside, Dr. Venture is a man who has a strong belief in traditional values, doesn’t like spending unnecessarily, believes the best defense is a strong offense, and would prefer it if he could go about his business with as little oversight or limitation as possible. There’s really no debate over which ballot he’d put his little “x” in.

If you have an idea for a fictional victim for The Character Assassin, e-mail Scott, or send him a tweet with your suggestion.

Benjamin Lafayette Sisko

Emissary of the Prophets

Star Of: A seven season television series, as well as several novels and related spin-off media.
First Appearance: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine pilot episode “Emissary”
Likes: Baseball, creole cooking, Bajoran mysticism
Dislikes: Jean-Luc Picard, the Dominion, Pah Wraiths
Bio: Commanding officer of Federation frontier outpost Deep Space Nine, and reluctant saviour of alien race with funny noses.

1. Good Government

First and foremost, Captain Sisko is a leader. He’s a builder – not just literally, but figuratively as well. Sisko really shines as a community leader and administrator, using a hands-off approach that seems to work very well for him.

As commander of DS9, he rarely gets involved personally in civilian matters unless it’s a truly serious matter – usually delegating to Bajorian liaison Major Kira or civilian security chief Odo. He even wisely gets a business association together; partly to keep tabs on troublesome Ferengi bar-owner Quark, but also to build a strong sense of community on the station.

Sisko seems to appreciate a diffused form of government, deferring to the expertise of a capable team, while acting as the ultimate “decider” on all matters.

Captain Sisko also seems to have a strong belief in the democratic system – at least as it pertains to the Federation. We get a glimpse of this in the episode “Paradise Lost” when he strongly opposes an attempted coup of the government by Starfleet. He earnestly believes in civilian representative government.

2. Race Relations

Ignoring the obvious, Sisko is a man who bridges two worlds. In this case Humans and Bajorans (or more literally Humans and non-linear wormhole aliens). And this ties into his above skill as a builder of communities.

One of Captain Sisko’s duties is to ease the Bajorans out of Cardassian occupation and into Federation membership – which involves less slavery.

It’s not an easy task, but Sisko considers it a personal challenge to find common ground between the two cultures, and bring them together through understanding.

But he also doesn’t believe in assimilation.

BIG problems with assimilation

He thinks both heritages are equally distinctive and valuable, and the Bajorans shouldn’t have to sacrifice their identity to join the Federation.

Man, couple that with his creole background, and he’d probably get along well in Quebec.

3. National Defense

Despite being an able administrator, as a Starfleet Captain, Sisko is primarily a soldier. And the series gives us plenty of information when it comes to his thoughts on National Defense.

Sisko is a principled man, yes, but he’s also a pragmatic man. And there comes a point where he’s willing to bend, or even break his own code of honour when the security of his people or his nation is at stake.

The best example of this comes in the episode “In the Pale Moonlight”, where he entrusts Cardassian spy-in-exile Garak with the job of bringing the Romulans into the alliance against the Dominion. Why? Because he has an honest face, obviously.

What Sisko becomes a party to is, essentially, murder. And in the end, he accepts that it was worth it, to preserve the Federation. Wrong? Oh yes. But worth it? Completely.

This is not to say that Sisko believes in winning at any cost – he’s just willing to weight the costs, and, ultimately, make the hard choice.

4. Religion

This is a sticky point for Captain Sisko – the separation of church and state. During his time as commander of DS9, it’s an issue he has to struggle with fairly often – keeping his position as a religious figure for the Bajoran people and his position as a Starfleet Captain and Federation representative separate.

A major insight into his opinions on the matter come with his relationship to the Kai. Kai Winn is ambitious and meddlesome – often stepping in and putting pressure on the civilian government to get her way, and even briefly taking the position of First Minister. And whenever she does this, it clearly makes Sisko uncomfortable.

In fact, even when Sisko himself occasionally lets his faith in the Prophets (who, admittedly aren’t spiritual religious figures, but strange cosmic aliens) guide his actions, he seems to be somewhat uncomfortable with it.

Ultimately, Sisko seems to understand that the lessons of religion are welcome in tempering politics – but that religion itself should be kept separate.

5. The Economy

Now, with the exception of the Ferengi, economic matters aren’t really touched on by Star Trek, but there’s a lot we can infer from Sisko’s history and his patriotism.

First of all, Sisko is the son of an entrepreneur. His father, Joseph, runs a creole restaurant called “Sisko’s Creole Kitchen”. This, coupled with his pushing to have a business collective come together on the space station would seem to imply that Sisko is a man who respects and supports small-business owners.

Then there’s the reality of the Federation. It’s basically a socialist paradise, one where money has little meaning and citizens are provided for with ease. And it’s a socialist paradise that Sisko is willing to kill for (see above.)

Verdict:

Though he lives in a socialist utopia, Captain Benjamin Sisko is a political centrist. He’s a man with many conservative values, but also many liberal values. He believes in a strong military, and a small, effective government – but also believes strongly in his socialist system and the right of the common man to have a say in his destiny. Whereas the average Federation citizens would likely vote NDP orange, we’re not talking about an average man.

We’re talking about Ben Fucking Sisko.

Megatron

Megalomaniac Decepticon Leader

Star Of: A Hasbro toy-line with a classic children’s cartoon based on it, and a number of spinoff comics, series’ and movies.
First Appearance: Transformers: Generation 1 (toy-line/cartoon)
Likes: Strong leadership (his), smug overconfidence, energon
Dislikes: Starscream, incompetence, losing
Bio: The military leader of a race of artificial lifeforms, who leads a faction in a civil war for control of his planet, and can disguise himself as a gun. Or a tank. Or a fighter jet. Or whatever.

1. Good Government

Megatron’s raison d’etre is patriotism. Say what you will about his methods, his heart is ultimately in the right place. He wants a strong Cybertron, a united Cybertron, a peaceful Cybertron.

Granted, that Cybertron is strong, united and peaceful under his domination… but that’s the only way he can ensure that stability. He knows that he’s the best solution to the problem, and to hell with the little guys who don’t have the vision to see the bigger picture like he can.

Megatron might kneel to no one, but he would respect those with a bold vision, and the conviction to carry it out at any cost. He would respect those who can take power, and keep it, even if it means destroying their opposition. That’s the kind of strong leadership that he would consider good government.

2. National Defense

As a feared military commander and leader of a pro-war faction, Megatron obviously believes in the necessity of a strong military. And, seeing as he literally turns into an instrument of death, it’s likely he won’t be afraid to utilize that military in a pinch.

Megatron seems... unlikely to seek compromise.

The problem with Megatron as a war-leader is that time and again, he often seems a little overly cautious. Frankly… he’s a bit of a chicken hawk. The guy talks big, but for his reputation, he’s often willing to cut-and-run at the first sign of trouble.

On the other hand, he’s committed to the larger mission. Megatron may be willing to lose a battle, but damned if he’ll lose the war. Surrender and defeat in the larger perspective are not an option – even if it means the sacrifice of thousands, and a protracted fight that takes centuries.

3. Energy

Like so many wars, the battle between the Autobots and the Decepticons has energy resources at it’s core, and freedom. But mainly energy.

Cybertron appears to be a military industrial economy, and as such is in need of a constant supply of fuel – in this case precious energon.

Purple Gold

Many of the battles the two factions engage in are over dwindling supplies of their vital power source, and both sides understand the importance of keeping the energon flowing.

Would Megatron make deals with Middle-East potentates to get more energon? Yes. Would he send in the troops to topple a regime that threatened that flow of energon? Yes. Would he strip mine the country if it meant a steady supply of energon? Yes.

4. The Environment

What environment?

Verdict:

Megatron is a believer in strength of leadership and an overpowering military hegemony. Granted, it’s impossible to tell how his economic beliefs pan out – but it’s pretty certain what his opinion would be of froo-froo socialist or liberal parties. The only problem here is that Megatron wouldn’t want to help put a Conservative government in power… he’d want to be the Conservative party in power.

If you have an idea for a fictional victim for The Character Assassin, e-mail Scott, or send him a tweet with your suggestion.

Rincewind

World's Worst Wizard

Star Of: An ongoing and lengthy series of novels (off and on), as well as spin-off media.
First Appearance: The Colour of Magic (novel)
Likes: Staying alive, running away, potatoes
Dislikes: Tourism, Death, adventure
Bio: The single luckiest, single most ill-fated man in the whole of the Disc, where he may very well also be the most sane human being alive.

1. Social Security

First and foremost, Rincewind is a wizard who dislikes hard, or dangerous work. Point of fact, he would much prefer to live a boring, simple life.

This isn’t just a manifestation of Rincewind’s cowardice (see blow), but a full-blown desire to be successful with the minimum amount of work possible. If Discworld had reality TV, Rincewind would very likely be doing his damnedest to pitch the next hit show Lazy Wizard at Work.

This is due mainly to contentment. Rincewind is perfectly happy living a quiet, mediocre life with no success if it means he didn’t have to exert himself or stick his neck out.

Put simply, if Rincewind knew that he could get money from the government for not working… well, he’d be the very first person in line, and would be laughing to the bank.

2. National Defense

Rincewind is a man with a very simple philosophy when it comes to conflict; “Run Away!”

Indeed, for Rincewind, the act of fleeing from a problem is less a mind-set and more of a religion. At one point he actively describes it as a means of ensuring the continuation of life – specifically his life.

Now, this is a pretty telling opinion for our lackluster wizard, as his first instinct in any situation is to cut-and-run when the going gets tough. From a national defense perspective that doesn’t bode well for support to our men and women in uniform. Rincewind would much rather take what he would see as the practical approach and have them come home in defeat – assuming said defeat also ensures they return alive.

3. Human Rights

When it comes to racism, Rincewind is actually a fairly forward thinking and open minded man – surprising when you consider that he’s a paranoid cynic.

Specifically, Rincewind believes that there are only two types of people in the world; those who are trying to kill him, and those who are not trying to kill him. Semantics like skin colour tend to fall to the wayside. I mean, honestly, who would you trust?

I’m just saying that Carl Winslow is less likely to shoot you in the face, and that would make him alright in Rincewind’s books.

4. Education

A major part of Rincewind’s life has been spent as an academic at the Unseen University, a major institution of magical study on the Disc.

Now, in this capacity Rincewind has an almost ass-backward appreciation of the education system because it has at once totally failed and utterly helped Rincewind it two diametrically opposed ways.

Rincewind is an abject failure as a wizard, and the education system did nothing to help him in a post-secondary capacity. On the other hand, he’s now a tenured professor – albeit it’s a token position that means little. Still, he’s fed, clothed and housed on university coin which is a situation he’s very content with.

He’s certainly not going to complain about the fairly liberal state of Canada’s university system.

Verdict:

Fundamentally, Rincewind is a social leech. He wants an easy life, and if that comes on the back of society, so be it. Coupled with a fundamental desire to avoid conflict, which would translate as much on a national stage as a personal one, and it’s pretty clear that Rincewind isn’t going to be voting blue. Nope, he’d mark his NDP candidate on the ballot, and then probably trip over a dragon on his way out of the voting station.

If you have an idea for a fictional victim for The Character Assassin, e-mail Scott, or send him a tweet with your suggestion.

Princess Peach

Abduction Prone Monarch

Star Of: A lengthy video game series, with dozens of spin offs and related media.
First Appearance: Super Mario Bros. (video game)
Likes: Mushrooms, pink, go-karting
Dislikes: Pushy suitors, rudeness, kidnappings
Bio: The princess, and apparent ruler, of the Mushroom Kingdom who is often kidnapped by her stalker, who is a demon turtle king.

1. National Defense
The first major note about the Mushroom Kingdom is its apparent utter lack of any law enforcement or military personnel of any sort. Granted, the people seem to live in an idyllic Utopian fashion… but that might also be why they continue to get trounced by foreign interests.

Frankly, when your first, last and only line of defense is your plumber… well you aren’t putting much thought into national security.

Ministers of Defense

2. Infrastructure
Where the Mushroom Kingdom isn’t putting any money into defending their borders, they are putting plenty of funding into public infrastructure. They have a world class sewer system that doubles as an efficient, emission free public transit system!

Ministers of Transportation

Granted, this isn’t a flawless system. The entire sewer/transportation network does have a rather severe infestation of deadly, fire breathing piranha plants. But, hey, nothing’s perfect, right?

3. The Economy
Princess Peach is an heiress, and thus very wealthy. In fact, in 2008 Forbes magazine named her the world’s 15th wealthiest fictional person.

Fortunately for her people, she’s obviously not very stingy with that fortune, either. In a somewhat unique form of “trickle-down economics”, money literally falls from the sky in the Mushroom Kingdom. It can also be found on the ground, and in the sewers.

Ministers of Finance

Now, granted, some of that money is hidden in hovering blocks, but clearly these are “make work” projects for the Toads, so they don’t feel like they’re getting welfare.

4. The Environment
One major thing to note about the Mushroom Kingdom is the very pristine nature of the whole the place. Very little development, most of it eco-friendly and huge tracts of green space crawling with dangerous indigenous wildlife.

Birdwatchers Beware

The Mushroom Kingdom must have a lot of focus on environmental conservation programs, but let’s face it… you would too if the alternative was staring down a herd of enraged Wigglers. And no one wants that.

Just be careful with where you get your solar energy.

Verdict:

When it comes to politics, Princess Peach is clearly leaning on the socialist side of things and her environmental track record is impressive. The obvious implication is that this monarch is wearing green under those pink petticoats.

If you have an idea for a fictional victim for The Character Assassin, e-mail Scott, or send him a tweet with your suggestion.

]]> http://theunknownstudio.ca/2009/12/the-character-assassin-princess-peach/feed/ 2 http://theunknownstudio.ca/2009/11/the-character-assassin-harry-potter/ http://theunknownstudio.ca/2009/11/the-character-assassin-harry-potter/#comments Fri, 27 Nov 2009 01:42:50 +0000 Scott C. Bourgeois http://theunknownstudio.ca/?p=753 So I’ve come up with a semi-regular feature for my, and hopefully your, amusement. I will take random fictional characters and do an analysis of their political leanings to determine which Canadian political party they secretly support. For no good reason, I’m calling the feature The Character Assassin. Let’s start big.

Harry Potter

Bespectacled Teenage Wizard

Star Of: His self titled book series and numerous film adaptations.
First Appearance: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (Novel)
Likes: Red-heads, Quidditch, jumping to conclusions
Dislikes: Dementors, potions class, Lord Voldemort
Bio: Young, British child-wizard Harry Potter grows up over several years spent at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, experiences angst, and then saves the world from a lich.

1. Human Rights
Harry is a half-blooded wizard, and the implication is that the Potters are a noteworthy wizarding line. His mother, however, was muggle-born – as was one of his best friends. Harry likes slumming around with fellow Gryffindor Hermione Granger who’s parents are muggle dentists. It’s noteworthy that you never actually see the Grangers – muggles are obviously not meant to be seen or heard. Do they even know what they’re daughter is up to at Hogwarts?

But that’s off topic.

The point is, Harry is all for muggle-born wizards to get the same treatment as any pure- or half-blood wizard. He is a firm believer in equality.

2. Race Relations
If Harry feels that second-class citizens like muggle-born wizards should be given equal rights, one can presume that he feels the same about the other races.

Granted, Harry was a reluctant champion of the House Elf issue, mainly becaming involved in S.P.E.W (the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare) though that pushy muggle-born Granger. Still, he earnestly felt that Elves were being mistreated and deserved better.

Of course, no one bothered to ask the Elves what they thought about their condition, but really, who cares what House Elves think.

In the course of his adventures, Harry also deals with Goblins, Centaurs and Giants – and it’s made very clear they are considered second-class citizens, beasts and monsters respectively. It can easily be assumed that Harry would be inclined to give them the same respect becoming of a wizard, despite his somewhat racist society.

3. Anti-Terrorism
The last two points were definitely fairly left leaning, but Harry has some political beliefs that are a little more right leaning as well.

Harry’s greatest desire in the later books is to finish his schooling in such a way as to become an Auror – a magical internal police with broad powers to investigate and neutralize magical threats. This includes emergency use of Unforgivable Curses, which means they can torture and kill in the name of justice.

So just how much do the ends justify the means, Mr. Potter? Admittedly, he sees the Aurors as shining knights, willing to fight the good fight; but the fact is in the wizard world, these guys are above the law they serve.

I don’t think a liberal would readily support a national police force with little public scrutiny and broad legal powers to investigate as they see fit.

Oh wait...

4. Good Government
Throughout his Hogwarts stay, Harry is a flagrant rule-breaker. Whether it be visiting the forbidden wing of the castle, or breaking into the Ministry of Magic, Harry is constantly getting himself and his friends into trouble (strange, considering his fondest wish is to become a law-enforcer.)

Harry is also mistrustful and disrespectful of authority figures, and is naturally suspicious of the Ministry of Magic that lords over his life. He constantly tries to shirk their control, and often stands for what he believes is right in stark defiance of the wishes of the establishment. Again, strange for someone who eventually wants to champion his society – but he does see the innate corruption at the heart of his government, and wants to see it changed.

5. The Economy
Harry is a very wealthy young man, having come into money through the trust-fund set up by his parents. Even after this windfall, Harry eventually inherits further wealth from a dead godparent.

Why is this all pertinent? Well, because Harry’s best friend is lovable ginger-kid Ron Weasley, who is also, basically, poor. The Weasley’s live in a hovel (lovingly called “The Burrow”), wear patched-up hand-me-downs, and scrape by on Mr. Weasley’s dead-end government job.

And yet does Harry use his considerable wealth to help out his friend and his family? The answer is seemingly “no.”

Granted, it may be that it never crosses his mind. It could also be that the Weasley’s, who still have their pride, simply refused to take any assistance.

Ultimately, this is the only major look into Harry’s economic leanings, and it isn’t very deep because it’s so superfluous to the plot. On the surface, it certainly looks as though Harry’s not big on charity, even if it helps out his best friend.

Verdict:

Harry Potter’s political leanings are mainly toward the left, especially socially. He’s an egalitarian, and believes in fair treatment for all people, while simultaneously being pro-nanny-state and anti-government corruption. His economic leanings do suggest a slightly more conservative view, and he is a strong proponent of a police force with few restraints on them, but it’s not enough to tip him into the blue. In the end, Harry Potter would likely vote red and complain about the taxes.

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