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22 August 2005
Sir Edward Heath
It's been quiet lately. But I found this quote
by the late Sir Edward Heath, which deserves to be read by everyone
interested in this subject. It was in a speech at Chislehurst Grammar
School on 25 April 1975, at the time of the referendum campaign.
"The anti-Marketeers are also living
in a dream world when they talk about sovereignty. They see sovereignty
in terms of the textbooks rather than the real world. What does
national sovereignty mean in plain English? It means the freedom
to act effectively in our national interests and in the individual
interests of our people. And the reality is that we can act more
effectively in all our interests if we work together and pool our
sovereignty with others. It's rather like the strength of a family.
Members of a family conform to certain basic general rules of behaviour
because they know that they are stronger, economically and socially,
as part of the family than they could ever be as individuals. Of
course a country, like an individual, can decide to go it alone.
And in theory at least, they may appear to have more freedom. But
freedom to do what? Free to buy what you want but too poor to afford
it. Free to say whatever you like - but too weak for anyone to listen.
This is the sovereignty and the freedom that the anti-Marketeers
dangle before you but it is a sham sovereignty and a fictional freedom..."
These blog entries first appeared on www.yes-campaign.net.
The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily
those of Federal Union or of the Yes campaign.
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