[I am against] the Treaty of Rome which entrenches laissez faire as its philosophy and chooses bureaucracy as its administrative method. Tony Benn More Quotes by Tony Benn More Quotes From Tony Benn The general election of 1983 has produced one important result that has passed virtually without comment in the media. It is that, for the first time since 1945, a political party with an openly socialist policy has received the support of over eight and a half million people. This is a remarkable development by any standards and it deserves some analysis ... the 1983 Labour manifesto commanded the loyalty of millions of voters and a democratic socialist bridge-head in public understanding and support can be made. Tony Benn eight party loyalty Democracy is not just voting every 5 years and watching 'Big Brother' in between and wondering why nothing happens. Democracy is what we do and say where we live and work Tony Benn voting brother years Christians believe that God created man, and humanists believe that man invented God. But whichever way you look at it, we're brothers and sisters. Either we're brothers and sisters because we're children of God, or because we've banded together to invent God. So the ethics of the humanist and the ethics of some Christians are very similar. And we don't want to create divisions between humanists and Liberation Theologians, any more than we want between the New Worker and the Trots. It's not helpful. Tony Benn brother christian children I've made every mistake - but mistakes are how you learn. Tony Benn making-mistakes made mistake Although socialism is widely held by the establishment to be outdated, the things that are most popular in British society today are little pockets of socialism, where areas of life have been excluded from the crude operation of market forces and are protected for the benefit of the community Tony Benn society-today community littles When we have a majority we will do it. I think the days of the Lords are quite genuinely numbered. Tony Benn majority lord thinking Undoubtedly the war with Iraq was a tragedy. I think it was also a crime. Tony Benn iraq war thinking I think if journalists were responsible for international policy we'd have a nuclear war every week. Tony Benn week war thinking The peace movement here is the biggest thing in human history. Tony Benn Making mistakes is how you learn. Tony Benn making-mistakes politics mistake If you read Mein Kampf, Hitler's book, which I have outside, I bought it when I was eleven, Hitler said, "democracy inevitably leads to Marxism" - now you work that one out. It's so interesting that when the poor have the vote they will use it to remove the privileges of the rich. Tony Benn democracy book interesting In developing our industrial strategy for the period ahead, we have the benefit of much experience. Almost everything has been tried at least once Tony Benn strategy benefits politics I think the truth is that the Labour Party isn't believed any more because people suspect it will say anything to get votes. The rebuilding of some radical alternatives to Thatcherism - and by that I mean all-party Thatcherism - will require us to do some very difficult things Tony Benn party mean thinking We used to have a War Office, but now we have a Ministry of Defence, nuclear bombs are now described as deterrents, innocent civilians killed in war are now described as collateral damage and military incompetence leading to US bombers killing British soldiers is cosily described as friendly fire. Those who are in favour of peace are described as mavericks and troublemakers, whereas the real militants are those who want the war. Tony Benn real military peace I see myself as an old man and an unqualified teacher to the nation. I think being a teacher is probably the most important thing you can be in politics. Tony Benn teacher men thinking We are not just here to manage capitalism but to change society and to define its finer values. Tony Benn politician politics change I now want more time to devote to politics and more freedom to do so. Tony Benn more-time politics want The police are controlled by the whites, the media are controlled by the whites, the army's controlled by the whites, what hope is there for change? Administration changes from underneath. Tony Benn police Middle class Labour leaders are recaptured by the establishment when they die. Tony Benn middle leader class All war represents a failure of diplomacy. Tony Benn diplomats failure war
