Why are we still in the UN?

[MannyGoldstein]

Doesn't seem like we really give a crap what other countries think any more.

Might as well free up the real estate in Manhattan, let Trump build something on the site.

[geek tragedy]

1. You should get a talk show with a conservative who rails against

"Obama's world apology tour" and "Obama bowing to foreign leaders."

[MannyGoldstein]

5. To debate, or have a lovefest?

I hope the former...

[geek tragedy]

8. Maybe you could learn from each other, indirectly.

As in "Obama's doing something to piss that guy off, he must be doing something right."

[Hydra]

10. President Obama is only pissing them off because he's Black

And he has a (D) after his name. The Wingnuts are big on image and sketchy on substance.

[geek tragedy]

15. So every conservative critic is a racist? nt

[Hydra]

17. Depends on what they are criticizing

But for the most part, yes. There are always a few of conscience, but they usually end up in our party when they figure out the company they are keeping, like Elizabeth Warren. Others are doing it because it's politically convenient to point out how he's doing what they usually vote for but don't have to with him doing the heavy lifting. Those are the real oddballs- most of the criticism is coming out of pure racism and authoritarian worship. They're being told to hate the "Kenyan," and they do.

Remember when the President had an off the cuff moment and said (correctly) that the police had acted "stupidly" when the Professor Gates(Harvard, Black) was arrested in his own home for breaking in? Remember how whoever was handling Obama got him to walk that back?

Racism is as old as dirt, and alive and well in the US.

[Agnosticsherbet]

2. An Imperial Power needs an Imperial Debating Club

for Imperial cheerleaders.

[Scuba]

3. Just to piss off John Bolton, apparently.

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Top 5 countries by UN funding:

United States - 22.000%
Japan - 10.833%
Germany - 7.141%
France - 5.593%
United Kingdom - 5.179%

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations#Funding

[MannyGoldstein]

6. So why bother funding them?

What are we getting out of it?

We *should* be getting something out of it - but we currently don't seem to give a @#%^ about what they say.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Human rights and humanitarian assistance

The pursuit of human rights was a central reason for creating the UN. World War II atrocities and genocide led to a ready consensus that the new organization must work to prevent any similar tragedies in the future. An early objective was creating a legal framework for considering and acting on complaints about human rights violations. The UN Charter obliges all member nations to promote "universal respect for, and observance of, human rights" and to take "joint and separate action" to that end. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, though not legally binding, was adopted by the General Assembly in 1948 as a common standard of achievement for all. The Assembly regularly takes up human rights issues.

The UN and its agencies are central in upholding and implementing the principles enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A case in point is support by the UN for countries in transition to democracy. Technical assistance in providing free and fair elections, improving judicial structures, drafting constitutions, training human rights officials, and transforming armed movements into political parties have contributed significantly to democratization worldwide. The UN has helped run elections in countries with little or no democratic history, including Afghanistan and East Timor. The UN is also a forum to support the right of women to participate fully in the political, economic, and social life of their countries. The UN contributes to raising consciousness of the concept of human rights through its covenants and its attention to specific abuses through its General Assembly, Security Council resolutions, or International Court of Justice rulings.

The purpose of the United Nations Human Rights Council, established in 2006,[52] is to address human rights violations. The Council is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights, which was often criticized for the high-profile positions it gave to member states that did not guarantee the human rights of their own citizens.[53] The council has 47 members distributed by region, which each serve three-year terms, and may not serve three consecutive terms.[54] A candidate to the body must be approved by a majority of the General Assembly. In addition, the council has strict rules for membership, including a universal human rights review. While some members with questionable human rights records have been elected, it is fewer than before with the increased focus on each member state's human rights record.[55]

The rights of 370 million indigenous peoples around the world are also a focus for the UN, with a Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples being approved by the General Assembly in 2007.[56] The declaration outlines the individual and collective rights to culture, language, education, identity, employment and health, thereby addressing post-colonial issues that had confronted indigenous peoples for centuries. The declaration aims to maintain, strengthen and encourage the growth of indigenous institutions, cultures and traditions. It also prohibits discrimination against indigenous peoples and promotes their active participation in matters that concern their past, present and future.[56] The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues is the UN's central coordinating body for matters relating to the concerns and rights of the world's indigenous peoples. The forum is an advisory body within the framework of the United Nations System that reports to the UN's Economic and Social Council.

In conjunction with other organizations such as the Red Cross, the UN provides food, drinking water, shelter and other humanitarian services to populaces suffering from famine, displaced by war, or afflicted by other disasters. Major humanitarian branches of the UN are the World Food Programme (which helps feed more than 100 million people a year in 80 countries), the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees with projects in over 116 countries, as well as peacekeeping projects in over 24 countries.

In 2011, the United Nations passed its first resolution recognizing LGBT rights, and followed up with a report documenting violations of the rights of LGBT people around the world, including hate crime, criminalization of homosexuality, and discrimination.[57][58] In July 2012, the South African and Brazilian ambassadors requested further discussion regarding discrimination against LGBT people. The joint statement said that sexual orientation and gender identity is a human rights issue.[59]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations#Human_rights_and_humanitarian_assistance

[DonCoquixote]

12. True that, although

While I do not think this war is worth fighting, I do have to ask, If all a Slobadon Milsoevic or Assad have to do to get a license to kill is make Putin and beijing happy, what's the point of the UN anyway? The Un seems to be nothing more than a rubber stamp for the powerful anyway.

[darkangel218]

9. For the s**ts and giggles

[reformist2]

11. What's this UN you speak of? Does Obama know about it?

[Hydra]

13. Same reason the USSR wanted a seat

Veto power. We can shut anything they need to work on down just by being there and disapproving.

We may not look like we put much in there, but we get a lot out by our investment.

[Laelth]

18. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[Autumn]

14. I used to think we stayed because republicans hated them.

But damn, it seems Democrats don't need them either.

[ProSense]

16. Because

Ron Paul....

Ron Paul Seeks UN’s Help In Domain Ownership Dispute

Former Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), who once filed legislation to end the United States' participation in the United Nations, is now turning to the international organization for help in obtaining two domain names, the Texas Tribune reported Monday.

The former presidential candidate and congressman filed a complaint Friday with the World Intellectual Property Organization, a United Nations agency, against the owners of RonPaul.com and RonPaul.org so he could gain control of the domains, according to a blog post published on the site.

His supporters are not pleased with Paul's actions.

Shocked and angered supporters cited Paul’s move as a betrayal of the libertarian principles he has espoused. The website owners reportedly offered to sell the domain name, RonPaul.com, and the 170,000-person mailing list for $250,000 — kicking in RonPaul.org for free — saying that was the free market solution to settle the dispute.

But rather than buy the domains, Paul decided to take his grievances to the organization he railed against during his many years in Congress.

http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/ron-paul-seeks-uns-help-in-domain-name

Story still cracks me up.

[The Straight Story]

19. Maybe you should actually spend a little time reading up on some things

The US has been working with the UN on a great many things, as it has over many years.

The UN is not always right, and when you have members that can veto pretty much anything than sometimes it is best not to worry about the UN. The members could vote in a large majority and agree and one member can say no and that's it.

July 19, 2012: China and Russia vetoed a resolution threatening Chapter 7 sanctions against Syria.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-18914578

Now, maybe you trust China and Russia to the point you want them having the decisions about how we react in the world, but not everyone has as much faith in them.

The UN has been in active, with the aid of the US in money/personnel, etc in the Congo - the idea was to save lives and help refugees back in 1999. Over 5 million have died there since their involvement.

You are right though - we should ignore the slaughter of people by their owner/dictator. Gassing people is none of our business - although at one time in history chemical/bio/nuclear weapons were frowned on. After 14 uses and no one does anything about it there is little wonder why assad continues on. After all, those folks do not deserve help since they are his people and he gets to choose their fate.

Now other nations will see that no one will care if they use such weapons. Because, well, who is going to do anything at all about it except shake their head, say 'what a shame', and go back to reading the latest novel or watching the ball game.

At one time in world history we saw the atrocity of millions dying, use of chemical weapons, and we said no more. We lied of course. Hell, we might as well profit off it all and sell assad some really good chemical weapons.

Those people dying might be defenseless (which some wish the populace here was - funny how we are all up in arms over guns here but all like 'meh, who cares' when it is chemical weapons there) but they are not Americans and don't deserve someone trying to help them or intervene on their behalf.

Let them eat cake.