UN Poll

[Doc Hollidazed]

:)

[GnekroeGnomicon]

oh come on Doc, look at the reader/viewership of Fox News. And then look at that reader/viewership's opinions of the UN over the last few years.

/shock coming to no one.

It is like going to the RNC and being surprised that people still support "W".




It also shows that 94% of those readers/viewers are morons. Even if you don't agree with how the UN is run or what it stands for, its mere existence is an extremely powerful diplomatic tool that we have used to our own advantage time and again. Remember, our gov't ignores the UN when the UN doesn't support what it is doing anyways. This unfortunately just adds to the reasons why the UN isn't as effective as it could be.

[Nadori]

I don't know. Thats an Iffy subject. UN has most of the time held different views than US.

My opinion is if they find that most of their views and ideas are not supported. US is strong enough not to need the protection of UN (IMO). So i don't know. But there is also the factor that UN does do a lot of good for the world. thats why its iffy.

I should probably read the Linky ( i never click on links :P)

[Hangman Gallows]

The UN has been corrupted and it has no power and doesnt do anything worth a damn. They send people to other countries say they are going to help them then they rape thier teen age children and rob the country of its natural resources. (Hi FRANCE)

They sit around and critise when we help other countries while they take bribes from those countries leaderships while attrocities are happening. They are getting rich off other peoples suffering while yelling at the US who is trying to end the suffering.

Basically the UN is a crock of shit and we shouldnt be involved in it.

[GnekroeGnomicon]

hehe well I will concede I that 94% could easily be made of moronic liberals and conservatives... you know the kind that watch FOX News Fair and Balanced etc - in which case the liberals that watch that are far more moronic than the conservatives :P

My point being is whether you like the UN or not, the US uses the UN for far more advantages than disadvantages for the amount of money that we pump into it. When the UN is doing something good, the US basks in its righteousness. When the UN screws up (which it does), the US can use it as a political punching bad. When the UN agrees with what the US is doing the US boasts about having the World's support. When the UN disagrees with what the US is doing the US just ignores the UN.

The UN is largely ineffective in many ways because we feel like we are able to play outside of the UN. The UN is however effective in a lot of humanitarian projects as well as bringing many nations to the peace tables rather than hastily going to war. Which when it comes down to it is really the purpose of the UN a place for the world to voice its opinions - a platform for world diplomacy.

Could it use reforms? Absolutely. Could it use more US diplomatic support? Absolutely. Is it in the US's best interest to provide more support? That is debatable. But to pull out of supporting the UN to the extent that we are doing now would be foolish.

Don't get me wrong, I don't place the UN on a pedestal. I definitely think it has many things wrong with it - and reforms should come. We should stop openly insulting the UN (thank you Mr. Bolton) and start pushing for reforms before it is too late.

The day the UN falls apart without a more effective organization to replace it is a day I will weep for the people of this world.

[najiwench]

Originally posted by GnekroeGnomicon@Sep 21 2006, 10:27 PM
My point being is whether you like the UN or not, the US uses the UN for far more advantages than disadvantages for the amount of money that we pump into it. When the UN is doing something good, the US basks in its righteousness. When the UN screws up (which it does), the US can use it as a political punching bad. When the UN agrees with what the US is doing the US boasts about having the World's support. When the UN disagrees with what the US is doing the US just ignores the UN.
painful truth from teh gnome

[Nadori]

Well said Gnek!

[Warspite]

You know the old saying: "Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer" applies to very much to our relationship to the UN. They should stick to the UNICEF ideal and leave the 'Peacekeeping' to those with an interest in whatever area needs 'Peace' and are willing to fight to keep it or make it.

[Xislaben]

Originally posted by GnekroeGnomicon+Sep 21 2006, 10:27 PM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (GnekroeGnomicon @ Sep 21 2006, 10:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'>The UN is largely ineffective in many ways because we feel like we are able to play outside of the UN. The UN is however effective in a lot of humanitarian projects as well as bringing many nations to the peace tables rather than hastily going to war. Which when it comes down to it is really the purpose of the UN a place for the world to voice its opinions - a platform for world diplomacy.[/b]

Close. The UN is largely ineffective because security council members will periodically allow their votes to be bought off by offending countries (see Iraq then, Iran now, and economic ties with several EU states), and none of the resolutions has any meaning unless a powerful country is willing to enforce them (that's us). You're right though, we're in the UN still because it mostly serves our own interests. I wouldn't call it a stabilizing force though, there's quite a few wars raging around the world that it's doing jack shit about, if that ever was part of its mandate. It is good at handing out other people's money, though often the warlords end up with the lion's share :)

<!--QuoteBegin-GnekroeGnomicon@Sep 21 2006, 10:27 PM
The day the UN falls apart without a more effective organization to replace it is a day I will weep for the people of this world.[/quote]

The UN is basically full of anti-US anti-Israel dictatorships, and Iran of all countries is clamoring for a permanent seat on the security council. It's only a matter of time, either the world will see some shocking reform (unlikely) or the US will cease to have the influence in the UN it enjoys, and our largess will come to an end. The UN has become too liberal too bureaucratic and infested anti-US and anti-Israel countries, but only a fool would throw away a somewhat useful tool without first grooming an adequate replacement.

Should we pull of out the UN? I believe it's only a matter of time, yes.

[Xislaben]

Originally posted by Doc Hollidazed@Sep 22 2006, 02:58 PM
On a side note, what the hell did Fox News do to their online format?
Oh good they changed it. I often wouldn't go to the site because I found the layout aesthetically displeasing.