The United Nations

[spl_cadet]

Your opinions? And reasons why please.

[Vorkosigan]

Stay in it, if the world lets us. Work for reform. Support multilateral frameworks for trade and democracy, which are the foundation of US wealth and power.

Vorkosigan

[Socrates]

I'd rather get out of it. They are an expensive waste of space, and do nothing useful -- and the name is an oxymoron in practice! If they'd had their way, Saddam would have thumbed his nose at the world for another 12 years. And for goodness's sake, having Libya as head of the Human rights Commission!

What's the big deal anyway? The UN was formed by the victors of WW2, which is why the Frogs are one of the permanent members of the Security Council. China was added later in recognition that they had the Bomb too. But now its use-by date has long past, and it's broken into bickering blocs.

[Ryokan]

I think we should stay in it, but that it needs to be radically reformed. The collective security provided by the UN has failed to prevent wars and for the most part fight aggressors. It leans far too heavily on the military of the US, without which it can't act. It needs to stop treating dictatorships as legitimate governments, and to stop pretending that a country of 1 million is the equal of China or India. And a country like India or Brazil or the EU as a whole, real powers, need to replace the British and French vetoes. And Libya and the Sudan need to be kicked of the Human Rights commision.

[lordsnooty]

I'm not a US resident, but I say stay in, and reform.

Paul

[wienerdog]

Stay in, but just so as to avoid ticking anyone off. I think the UN shot itself in the foot, and it's beyond reform. We'll need a new organization to take its place, just like the UN took the place of the Leage of Nations.

[$cirisme]

A one-world democratic government(which is what the UN tries to be) is impossible.

The UN should go the way of the League of Nations.

[Mr Stick71]

The U.S. pays for 25% of the U.N.'s operating budget (http://www.asil.org/insights/insigh21.htm). Why on earth are we paying for our war and the opposition against it?!

Get out, and put that money to a better use than bickering for 12 years and getting nothing accomplished.

[Epoetker]

Get out, but still support the NGO's and other organizations that do some good (IMF, WHO, UNICEF, etc.)

[HerodionRomulus]

Socrates said in part: "They are an expensive waste of space, and do nothing useful"

There are numerous humanitarian agencies and functions which are quite beneficial: World Health Org, UNICEF, the Refugee Assistance programs, just to name a few.

Certainly it has failed to always or even mostly keep the peace but that is a structural probem: no country wants to surrender it's bit of turf.

The comparisons being made to the League of Nations are valid: after it collapsed, there was no mechanism to halt or even slow down the rush to WWII---will we see the same? an aggressive well-armed country seeking to spread it's influence and domain to other countries--good old fashioned Imperialism.