The Great Deception

Something is rotten in Europe. That is the inescapable conclusion after reading The Great Deception: The Secret History of the European Union by Christopher Booker and Richard North.

Booker and North provide a detailed history of the construction of the European Union. As the title implies, every stage of this long process has been cloaked in deception.

The real goal of the European Union is to create a supernational government that will control all of Europe. It will have common economic, monetary, foreign and military policies, along with its own constitution, flag, anthem, and all the other trappings of a state. It will have practically limitless power to interfere with every aspect of its subjects' lives. Furthermore, the EU would not be democratic in any meaningful way, but would be dominated by a small elite.

In fact, much of this already exists. This is not an accident. It was foreseen from the beginning by its founder, Jean Monnet, who was plotting a United States of Europe as early as the 1920s. However, Monnet realized that the people did not support his schemes. Thus he decided that his plans would have to be implemented gradually and by using deception.

Hence the book's title. Monnet and the plan's proponents consistently lied about the true nature of the European project. Whatever step was being considered was always small and innocuous, without any broader implications. It was always directed towards some laudable goal, such as improving cooperation with other countries, promoting peace, improving the economy, and reducing regulation. In truth, the nations of Europe were progressively surrendering their sovereignty.

Particularly interesting is the use of "free trade" in this debate. Proponents of the European project often argued that it was just a free trade agreement or that it would promote free trade. But instead of reducing taxes and regulation, it transferred them to a higher level. It reduced national tariffs and regulation, but increased European tariffs and regulation. The European bureaucrats, or Eurocrats, have created thousands of new laws governing almost everything imaginable. Europeans ended up with less economic freedom, not more.

In fact, the European project bears a disturbing resemblance to the efforts of American elites to destroy our sovereignty through "free trade" agreements like NAFTA, CAFTA, and the SPP.

The authors show that the European Union is not democratic. It has elections, but they have virtually no impact on the decisions that the EU makes. The real powers are the unelected, unaccountable Eurocrats and judges.

Booker and North are prominent British Euroskeptics, and they approach the EU from a British perspective. British prime ministers have either outright betrayed their country by participating in the deception or have been naive proponents of Europe who were consistently maneuvered into surrendering more sovereignty.

Margaret Thatcher began as a proponent of "Europe." As Prime Minister, she became increasingly opposed to the EU. Eventually, EU leaders inspired members of her own party to launch a coup to remove her from office.

Awareness of the true nature of Europe has grown of late, leading to the rejection of the proposed European constitution by referenda in France and The Netherlands. The future of the European project is now uncertain. But even if it goes no further, a great deal has already been lost.

The Great Deception is packed with detail and at times can make for difficult reading. But it is well worth it for anyone who is interested in protecting national sovereignty.