Episode 20: "GRRM vv JRRT; The Quandary of Aragorn's Tax Policy"

Learned Hands: The Official Podcast of the Westerosi Bar Association

In this twentieth episode of Learned Hands, the Official Podcast of the Westerosi Bar Association, Maester Merry & Clint from Laws of Ice and Fire and a cast of several ask: Is GRRM successful in asking meaningful questions about his character’s ‘tax policies’?

Our analysis this week includes:

• Learned Hands invites wonderful and thought provoking amicus curiae briefs from WBA members Ray, Adriana, Pat, Jimi, Lo, Alex, Virginie, and some other guy (Frank).
• Merry and Clint wrestle with the proper legal standard to apply to the question, aided by Adriana and Ray.
• Steven Stark beautifully renders GRRM’s tax policy quotation.
• Pat raises great questions about baby orc genocide!
• Lo beautifully critiques GRRM’s treatment of Dany’s white saviorism.
• Alex points out gaping holes in GRRM’s treatment of race and sexuality.
• Jimi hoists the hosts on their own petard
• Virginie analyzes the question in the context of TORMUND THUNDERFIST, HUSBAND TO HOSTS, etc etc
• Frank manages to make an argument without mentioning Stannis EVEN ONCE.
• Clint talks about tax policy and crenelations!
• Merry does a sexy Oberyn Martell impression!
• The court renders an opinion on both the book AND the show.

Supplemental reading:

• Pat's essay on how the Starks are like Orcs
• Clint's essay on Westeros and the Social Contract
• Lo the Lynx's treasure trove of essays

Extensive editing by LittleWolfBird. Bumpers by Jimi Mac. Intro & Outro music courtesy Sid Luscious & The Pants. None of this should be construed as legal advice OBVIOUSLY.

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