To me that reads as a guy (Tolkien) coming to grips with reality about a handful of things but then stopping short. Wishing to retreat, really, to a “simpler” time, from his perspective (read: lib shit, tbh). His “anarchism” seems real, in that he sees clearly the fundamental issue with humans operating in a deeply articulated government structure - those who see it as a game, game it well.
Not exactly defending the guy, I don’t actually know him lol, but there wasn’t much “and that’s why monarchy should be preferred”, I was kinda looking to see what he’d say there. Seemed more just “and people doing more of their own governance happened and was clearly better under a smaller “state”. Like a good old fashioned monarchy, I liked that better and not just me, wasn’t that better? record-scratch-noise”
So I guess on balance I read “anarcho-lib-shit” over “anarcho-monarchism” overall lol 🤷♂️
[Edit to add - thanks for the share, not grumping at ya, just enjoying what ya shared]
I mean theres also anarcho-totalitarianism so yeah 🤷
My favorite example of anarcho-bullshittism is anarcho-monarchism, the most famous proponent of which was J. R. R. Tolkien. No, really.
To me that reads as a guy (Tolkien) coming to grips with reality about a handful of things but then stopping short. Wishing to retreat, really, to a “simpler” time, from his perspective (read: lib shit, tbh). His “anarchism” seems real, in that he sees clearly the fundamental issue with humans operating in a deeply articulated government structure - those who see it as a game, game it well.
Not exactly defending the guy, I don’t actually know him lol, but there wasn’t much “and that’s why monarchy should be preferred”, I was kinda looking to see what he’d say there. Seemed more just “and people doing more of their own governance happened and was clearly better under a smaller “state”. Like a good old fashioned monarchy, I liked that better and not just me, wasn’t that better? record-scratch-noise”
So I guess on balance I read “anarcho-lib-shit” over “anarcho-monarchism” overall lol 🤷♂️
[Edit to add - thanks for the share, not grumping at ya, just enjoying what ya shared]
In other words, what was Aragorn’s tax policy? Tolkien never says because he refuses the reality that a king needs one.
I dunno, I think he meant anarchism but with a symbolic monarch who has soft power only.