U.N Security Council veto power

[Trent]

I think my cynicism is well founded. The entire United Nations is a failure. It is hampered by ridiculous amounts of beauracy and a misguided world view. The fact that it gives countries like Burma a vote is pure insanity.

[enwiabe]

Well, we'll have to agree to disagree. But I think you'll find that the more considered, thoughtful approach is to look at the real root causes behind the UN's failure. Yes, a few of them exist in the power structure and the bureaucracy, but so many more of them exist in the corruption and self-interest of each individual member state.

[Glockmeister]

A lot of the good work that is done by the various UN organisations really does go unpublished. The various agencies of the UN such as the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization and the folks at the UNHCR amongst other agencies really have done things that have benefited the world as a whole.

[Trent]

I don't disagree that the various sub-agencies of the UN do good work, but essentially they are somewhat autonomous and could function by themselves. The real problem with the UN is the SC and GA and the organs which involve dialogue between member countries.

[excal]

I think my cynicism is well founded. The entire United Nations is a failure. It is hampered by ridiculous amounts of beauracy and a misguided world view. The fact that it gives countries like Burma a vote is pure insanity.

Why is it insanity?

[Trent]

I think my cynicism is well founded. The entire United Nations is a failure. It is hampered by ridiculous amounts of beauracy and a misguided world view. The fact that it gives countries like Burma a vote is pure insanity.

Why is it insanity?

Because countries like Burma, which everyone concedes is a military junta that has no regard for human rights or international law, do not deserve to vote on issues which affect the world. I believe it was Burma, amoungest others, that voted for an inquiry into Isreal's treament of Palestinians during the recent war, yet they are doing things far worse in their own country. To me it makes no sense. If a country is going to sit on an international council, a high-profile and influential one at that, they should conform to the guidelines which that council expects. It should be more like the EU, where members states must reach certain expectations in order to be accepted.

[excal]

I think my cynicism is well founded. The entire United Nations is a failure. It is hampered by ridiculous amounts of beauracy and a misguided world view. The fact that it gives countries like Burma a vote is pure insanity.

Why is it insanity?

Because countries like Burma, which everyone concedes is a military junta that has no regard for human rights or international law, do not deserve to vote on issues which affect the world. I believe it was Burma, amoungest others, that voted for an inquiry into Isreal's treament of Palestinians during the recent war, yet they are doing things far worse in their own country. To me it makes no sense. If a country is going to sit on an international council, a high-profile and influential one at that, they should conform to the guidelines which that council expects. It should be more like the EU, where members states must reach certain expectations in order to be accepted.

If their opinions are truly in conflict with the rest of the world, in that they have no regard for human rights or 'international law', then it is likely that their opinions and votes will be drowned out by the rest of the nations on this council. This is one of the fundamentals of democracy, as applied at the less granular 'council' level.

"I may disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it" - Evelyn Beatrice Hall