News Is the Future of the UN in Question?

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The discussion centers on the future of the United Nations (UN) and its effectiveness as an international diplomatic organization. Participants express skepticism about the UN's current structure, suggesting it may need significant reform or even complete disbandment in favor of a new organization. There is a consensus that while the UN is flawed, it serves a purpose that might be better than having no international diplomatic body at all. Key points include the need for clarity on whether the UN should be reworked or if the concept of such organizations is fundamentally flawed. The conversation also touches on the distribution of power within a potential new organization and critiques the presence of minor politicians within the UN, arguing that it detracts from its primary mission. Overall, the dialogue emphasizes the necessity of addressing the UN's shortcomings while recognizing the challenges of creating a more effective alternative.
misgfool
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Could you clarify, please, there are two ways to read your post:

1. The UN is a flawed organization and should be disbanded in favor of a new one or reworked.
2. The general concept of an international diplomatic organization is fatally flawed and should be abandoned.

If your opinion is #1, I agree and think it should be reworked or scrapped and redone. There are also some fundamental problems with the concept (#2) that imply it isn't possible (yet) to have a functional international diplomatic organization, but imo, it is better to have a flawed/semi-functional one vs none at all.
 
It looks hard to get something better than the current UN system but without it we are worse off.

I also agree with Russ, but I don't think it's easier or even possible to restructure UN unless something big happens.
 
russ_watters said:
Could you clarify, please, there are two ways to read your post:

1. The UN is a flawed organization and should be disbanded in favor of a new one or reworked.
2. The general concept of an international diplomatic organization is fatally flawed and should be abandoned.

If your opinion is #1, I agree and think it should be reworked or scrapped and redone. There are also some fundamental problems with the concept (#2) that imply it isn't possible (yet) to have a functional international diplomatic organization, but imo, it is better to have a flawed/semi-functional one vs none at all.

Yes, it's #1. And here comes the million dollar question: Should it (new organization) have any power and if so, how should the power be distributed?
 
The UN has lots of minor groups/committes that provide a forum for debate/opportunity for minor politicians to create pubicty.

It's like caling for the federal government to be shut down because some DVLC official in Oshkosh called for a ban on car phones.
 
mgb_phys said:
The UN has lots of minor groups/committes that provide a forum for debate/opportunity for minor politicians to create pubicty.

It's like caling for the federal government to be shut down because some DVLC official in Oshkosh called for a ban on car phones.

The UN shouldn't be a place for minor politicians to create a career. And the UN has bigger problems than the religion case, but that does highlight the problems. Besides a better analogy would be a ban approved and ratified by the federal government.
 
Every day we learn new things. Sometimes it's just a small fact or realization. No matter how trivial or random, let's start recording our daily lessons. Please start off with "Today I learned". Keep commentary to a minimum and just LIKE posts. I'll start! Today I learned that you clean up a white hat by spraying some cleaner with bleach on it (rinse before putting it back on your head!)

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