“We ignore at our peril the fact that these natural systems – in other words, Nature’s own economy – provide the foundation for our prosperity and our national security.”
Final Remarks on Power and Responsibility
The King concluded with remarks emphasizing the global influence of the United States and the importance of responsible leadership.
He said:
“Mr Speaker, Mr Vice President, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, America’s words carry weight and meaning, as they have since Independence.
“The actions of this great nation matter even more.”
He also referenced historic legal foundations, including the Magna Carta, noting its influence on modern democratic principles:
“Our Declaration of Rights of 1689 was not only the foundation of our constitutional monarchy but also provided the source of so many of the principles reiterated – often verbatim – in the American Bill of Rights of 1791.
“And those roots go even further back in our history: the US Supreme Court Historical Society has calculated that Magna Carta is cited in at least 160 Supreme Court cases since 1789, not least as the foundation of the principle that executive power is subject to checks and balances.”