Robin Hood as Seen Through the Eyes of Democrats, Libertarians and Republicans

[joebaur42]

The legend of Robin Hood can be viewed as a reassurance of one’s political ideology. This comes as no surprise, since most partisan ideologues only allow reality to be as it fits their worldview. But Robin Hood has all the makings of a political hero. He robbed the rich to feed the poor and there were taxes and stuff. Depending on your political leanings, you probably view the legend differently. Below details what I surmise a Democrat, Libertarian and Republican would have to say about Sir Robin of Locksley.

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[Uncle Joe]

1. I believe that's about right.

Thanks for the thread, joebaur.

[joebaur42]

2. No problem.

Hope you'll keep reading and subscribe to the show!

[phantom power]

3. Ayn Rand (libertarian) considered Robin Hood one of the greatest villains ever.

Mostly on the grounds that stealing from the rich and giving to the poor implied the poor weren't earning it, although her entire premise required her to ignore the fact that King John acquired his wealth through predatory taxation on what the poor were earning.

Frankly, I've always thought the Robin Hood should be a modern conservative hero, since his whole gig was subverting unfair taxation and returning it to the people. Of course, the modern conservative movement is in truth led by people who are very similar to King John, even though they all advertise themselves as hardworking peasants.

[CJCRANE]

4. Robin Hood's tactics were just an ancient form of

progressive taxation.

And of course Sir Robin was one of the 1%, but that didn't stop him from being a man of the people.

[Wraith20878]

5. The Robin Hood we know today was in the 1%

But the reality is we have no idea what class he was in, if he even existed at all. Every time the story was told, his characteristics would change depending on who was telling the story. Sometimes he was a landless peasant, other times he was a yeoman farmer, and still other times he was a nobleman who lost is inheritance. This is one of the main reasons the story has remained popular for so long, it has been constantly reinvented to remain relevant.

The version I grew up with was the Erroll Flynn version, which came out in 1938. As a child, I never saw this version's Robin Hood as a progressive hero, but looking back on it, it makes sense. The movie plays up the idea that England was sharply divided between the rich Norman Barrons and the Poor Saxons. Robin is a Saxon nobleman who is outlawed for standing up against Prince John and his oppression of the poor.

Later in the film, Marion asks Robin why he would choose to live as an outlaw in the forest, and points out to him that one of the people he had recently helped was a Norman.

Robin Hood: Norman or Saxon, whats that got to do with anything? It's injustice I hate not the Normans.
Marion: But it's cost you your rank, your lands. Its made you a hunted outlaw when you could have lived in comfort and security. What's your reward for all this?
Robin Hood: Reward? You just don't understand do you.

This was the Robbin Hood I always found heroic, the one who realized that injustice was the true enemy.

[Laxman]

6. That movie...

was made during a time when sentiments like that were indicative of our national spirit. When being an honest working stiff was considered a high form of existence. I shudder to think what modern day film makers would do with such noble thoughts. Now we worship anyone who makes a lot of money, no matter how they get it.

[Wraith20878]

7. That may be true

The majority of people may think that way, but not everybody does. This was made in the 1930's but it was still my favorite movie growing up, and I was born in the 1980's. The version of Robin Hood shaped by this movie was my earliest childhood hero, and continues to shape my world view today. Maybe I was born in the wrong time.

[Laxman]

8. Not The Wrong Time...

Just a different one. If everyone was cynical and self-centered, we would really be screwed. That was a great movie by the way.