—&.TEMPESTATE

“Objectivity isn’t near impossible: it is impossible. All of us have our biases, our own set of ideals, our own perceptions, and politicians should run on those platforms, on their own views, rather than anyone else’s. But just because objectivity is impossible doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t strive to be open-minded, be able to find compromise. Or change our minds. The unlearning process can be hard, sure, but it can also be what’s best for society as a whole, which is what politicians are supposed to look out for.” But what they were supposed to do and what they did do were quite different. “That doesn’t mean that corruption can’t be slowly eradicated bit by bit. Shacklebolt made a lot of strides with that during his tenure in office.” Him, along with his father and Aunt Hermione had put in a lot of work to reduce the pureblood bias that had run rampant at the Ministry. Progress was not impossible. “Well, I wouldn’t reject a proposal just because I would have nothing to stand to gain from it. I just need to hear more about his proposition and how he plans to implement it. Does he plan on just opening the flood gates and having the two worlds integrate entirely or will it be done in increments and over time? Does he plan to just replace the Statute of Secrecy with a different kind of provision to decide our relationship with the Muggle world? His proposal would, after all, not just affect the United Kingdom, but all the world. Has he discussed this with other Ministers? These are the kind fo things I would need to know before I can properly consider what I think of the plan.”

“Even if you erode corruption -- which while their may have been progress in recent years I think it would be overly optimistic and mildly ignorant to think it can be eradicated completely -- it doesn’t change the fact that this lack of objectivity means politics will never be fair. There can be two politicians, neither of whom are corrupt and both believe that they doing something for the good of society as a whole, however the one that wins will be the one who knows how to take advantage of this best. Whoever can identify and appeal to these inherent cogitative biases and manipulative a crowd better. The one who wins doesn’t necessarily win because he will be the best for society, but because people have been made to think he will be. Even if people are not corrupt, politics is a game of power that relies on the support of the public, who are both fallible and easily manipulated if you have the right knowledge. Being truly open-minded seems like an ideal that’s difficult to attain.” Psychology fascinated Ada, studying the mind to understand it. What it’s weak points were, how it functioned and what made it tick. Fascination aside, as someone who considered a strategist, she figured these mechanisms of the mind were useful to understand and even more useful if she could use them as a tool. “There is a lack of depth to his plan that raises more questions than it does answers. This plan would make many jobs redundant? Anybody working in sectors involving Muggles knowing about magic would no longer have a job. Has he considered the economic impacts of his reform? If Trunsk doesn’t make radical changes to the structure of the wizarding world as it is before allowing the Muggles in, there is potential for everything to just dissolve into chaos. Already there is very little place in society for non-magical wizards -- they can’t even go to Wizarding institutions except as caretakers. What place is there for Muggles?”

@tempcstates

❝Why are you staring at me?❞

Ada regarded Rose with a contemplative look, not bothering to shift her gaze or respond to Rose for several moments. “Why does it matter?”

“Mm, I suppose that’s part of the issue, right? Conservatives, by their very definition, prefer tradition and are more hesitant about change, especially such drastic change. And individuals, no matter what side they tend to lean on, seem to prefer views that they can benefit from. Or at least views where they don’t stand to lose anything.” James knew that he spoke from a position of comfort himself. His family had always been known for their pro-muggle sentiments, yet even to him, this decision could not be made so easily and he could not make up his mind on where it was that he stood. Indecisiveness thrummed through his veins as he considered the varied consequences to the proposal. He too had to watch his words in certain company. “Of course, all proposals deserve the same kind of scrutiny and people should be able to weigh all the pros and cons. Especially for a proposal that is so far-reaching, should it happen, the very culture of our world would change. I’d say that’s deserving of serious consideration and goes beyond where you stand on your view of muggles.”

"Objectivity is near impossible, it seems," Ada mused, still not bothering to greet James with proper pleasantries. "Politicians can be brought, and the supporters are always going to be influenced cognitive biases whether they realise they are or not. It's difficult, after all, to unlearn what you spent your entire life learning. It's also difficult to align yourself with a view that you might consider detrimental to yourself. Makes you wonder about how fair these elections really are." Politics was all a game to Ada, though it was one she preferred to observe than play herself. The better politicians knew how to use these flaws to their advantage. An honest man would never succeed in such a cut throat, corrupt industry, Ada thought with a touch of amusement. The fairness — or lack of it, rather — of the system didn't bother her too much. It had yet to prove itself a problem. "They do, although not all see it that way. Whether you're a conservative or more liberal, regardless of which side the proposal falls it should always undergo scrutiny. Just because it agrees with your ideology doesn't necessarily mean it will be beneficial to you. Especially with such a contentious proposal as Trunk's — as you said, the ramifications of it would be dramatic, to say the least. No one would be unaffected. The practicality of such plans need to be seriously considered, not just how it should work ideally."

“Fair, but there has to be a fairness to it, right? Racism is wrong, because there is no proof that any race is better than any other. They’re all just human. Heteronormativity is stupid for the same reason. Attraction is attraction. But there is no point in rejecting magical superiority or blood purity, because there is no way those with magic aren’t more powerful than those without. Muggle supporters are stupid, just like modern protagonists. Oh, the girl reads. What a genius! How unique! It’s embarrassing, and you’re buying me a cookie.”

"True. Skin colour doesn't affect someone's skills, you're not better at something just because your skin is white. Heteronormativity just leads to an incredibly dull life, in my opinion. There are other ways to have children than natural reproduction, and denying attraction to someone on the basis that it wouldn't be a heterosexual relationship is a pathetically trivial reason. Why deny yourself pleasure based on something so arbitrary? There's nothing trivial about magic, though. It's hard to argue that wizards and Muggles are equals when it's clear Wizards have more power. Introducing Muggles to our society will only be a hindrance — already we lack adequate resources for squibs, what are we supposed to do with Muggles? It's pointless. Muggles have their strengths, but they aren't strengths that will benefit us anymore than they already do by intertwining the societies properly. People ought to think their propositions through more carefully rather than letting blind ideology be the basis for their opinions. The girl reads, the boy smirks, destiny says they're meant to be together but there's another plain white boy thrown in to cause conflict and suddenly saving the world doesn't matter because there's a love triangle. True quality. Am I now? I thought I shouted last time, it's your turn this time. It'll do you good to have to buy things for once, you know, because Matheson indulges you every other time."

“Right, I agree. Human tendencies tend to run closer to beasts, no matter how much they try to deny it. And Muggles particularly, what they don’t understand, they prosecute. It’s taken them centuries to accept homosexuality, magic will be madness. But mm, no. I was browsing, but apparently, all modern literature will cease to exist without boring protagonists who couldn’t get more stereotypical and dull if they tried. Iced latte?”

“They still don’t accept it, do they? At least Wizards mostly do, even if the traditional ones are heteronormative when it comes to preserving bloodlines. It’s a tragedy, really. Half the protagonists these days are more monotonous than Professor Binns’ voice, and I didn’t think that was possible. A six year could create a more interesting character than those featured in modern literature. Mmn. Usual place?”

“Exactly. Some of our own don’t get magic and some of theirs do. It’s not a problem. And we can adopt their technology and education just fine, wizarding society knows the muggle world exists and even has access to it through muggleborn wizards. What could they possibly learn from us when they couldn’t use it? The theory itself makes less sense than Trunsks’ hair.”

“Knowing Muggles, they’d attempt to subdue us and keep us in cages to study us like we were zoo animals. It’s not as if Muggles don’t have a history of turning on themselves and using each other as science experiments. Not that they would succeed. Their technology has its uses, but it is no match for our magic. Anyway, did you find the book you wanted? I feel a coffee or a glass of wine is a needed.”

“Surprised, not particularly. Interested? Yeah. I’d say it’s been awhile since we had an election that had this many engaged. Some of the ideas being proposed affect everyone in a widespread way, obviously, but I partially have to wonder if people are genuinely considering the options or using it as an excuse to rehash a part of our culture that we have been dealing with for centuries.” That included the prejudice, for one. The notion of blood purity. Leaning against the corner of an open table, James tipped his drink back. “Something such as Trunsk’s proposal leaves open a lot of opportunity to take advantage, for fear-mongering tactics.”

“I think, in an election, it is natural for people to support whoever is promoting views they find most appealing, regardless of whether or not those views are sound. Conservatives are not going to suddenly support the liberals, and the liberals are not going to turn conservative overnight. Inherent bias’ cannot be helped when it comes to choosing a position. There is comfort in familiarity, after all.” Ada received her own coffee from the barista with a polite thank you, taking a sip before approaching the second part of Potter’s statement. “Perhaps, but there is also opportunity to push the opposite, is there not? This radical proposal provides the opportunity to push a pro muggle ideology that cannot be critiqued because the second you say something that is even slightly in disagreement with his proposal, you are labelled prejudiced and archaic. All proposals should be critiqued, regardless of what ideology they promote.”

❝It wasn’t over. It still isn’t over.❞

“Is there one to attend to? I wasn’t aware that you finally broke and decided to kill Gisèle and Nate, Greengrass.”

“There will be as soon as I get my hands on them. I can’t remove the image of them defacing my kitchen from my memory, but I can get some satisfaction from knowing they’ll never be able to do it again.”

❝It looks like you’re going to a funeral.❞

“Indeed, or it would be pandemonium otherwise. Surely, if they were meant to have magic, they would be born with it. Some of them are, aren’t it? But they aren’t all deserving. It’s like showing a child sweets and them eating them in front of it — you know you can’t give them magic so what is the point of showing it? Humans do have a tendency to want things they cannot have, and they will only get more desperate for it with every passing second of muggle-ness. I fail to see their point, really. What are they even arguing in favour of?”

“Just like all wizards aren’t born with magic -- squibs exist too. The muggleborns should count themselves lucky to have magic when some of our own are deprived of it. There is little in our world for squibs, bringing in more magic-less people would only ensure chaos. What would we do with them? I can understand how some parts of Muggle society might be useful -- education, for example, also perhaps Muggle welfare systems, but I fail to comprehend why Muggles -- other than than those who need to know, like their prime ministers, -- need to be introduced to the world. There are just too many complications, and the structure of the wizarding world wouldn’t be able to handle it. There seem to be no benefits?”

“Mm, it’s just like the case with certain sections of the Dark Arts, isn’t it? If the magical world at large knew them, we’d have a travesty on our hands. The muggles are no different. If they knew magic was real, they’d likely feel entitled and think themselves deserving of these spaces. Infiltrating our inner sanctums. It might just be worse than the tans. Just a bit, but worse.”

“Some things are meant to be kept secret. It’s for the good of society. Some Muggles are fortunate -- from their perspective -- to be born with magic, but those who are not will never be able to acquire it, and introducing them to this world is pointless? It creates unnecessary jealousy. We know from Muggle literature that Muggles have a fascination with all things magical, would it not just be cruel to allow them to learn of our existence, only for them to find they can never truly be part of it? Especially if they still insist on trying to be part of our world and invading our spaces. Those in support of this have clearly not thought it through.”