[saturn_656]

bootlegga bootlegga:

Yeah, democracy sure sucks, doesn't it. It'd probably be a whole lot better if the UN was a dictatorship run by the USA, right?

The UN was the West's playground until the mid-60s - when the West had the numbers in the GA, now that the West is in the minority, the UN is a bunch of crap. You sound just like any number of people on this forum who complain when their chosen party doesn't gain a majority.

But when the West could use the UN to stick it to the PRC or the USSR (Korean conflict, Cuban Missile Crisis), we all loved the UN.

Suck it up - that's life in a democracy - sometimes it makes decisions you (or your friends don't like.

Besides, 99% of the power at the UN resides in the Security Council, and three of the five powers with vetoes are all Western nations. Guess it isn't so bad after all...

The majority of countries in the GA are not full democracies. Single party states, dictatorships, bananna republics, etc. out number countries like Canada with governments representative of the people.

In the GA, we're a stallion forced to roll in the mud with pigs, which is bad enough. What makes it worse is that the pigs have the nerve to criticize our hygiene.

Yes, much of the power lies with the UNSC, but when we need the stamp of approval from the "pig pen" to sit on it, that's a problem.

[bootlegga]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

bootlegga bootlegga:

Yeah, democracy sure sucks, doesn't it. It'd probably be a whole lot better if the UN was a dictatorship run by the USA, right?

The UN was the West's playground until the mid-60s - when the West had the numbers in the GA, now that the West is in the minority, the UN is a bunch of crap. You sound just like any number of people on this forum who complain when their chosen party doesn't gain a majority.

But when the West could use the UN to stick it to the PRC or the USSR (Korean conflict, Cuban Missile Crisis), we all loved the UN.

Suck it up - that's life in a democracy - sometimes it makes decisions you (or your friends don't like.

Besides, 99% of the power at the UN resides in the Security Council, and three of the five powers with vetoes are all Western nations. Guess it isn't so bad after all...

The majority of countries in the GA are not full democracies. Single party states, dictatorships, bananna republics, etc. out number countries like Canada with governments representative of the people.

In the GA, we're a stallion forced to roll in the mud with pigs, which is bad enough. What makes it worse is that the pigs have the nerve to criticize our hygiene.

Yes, much of the power lies with the UNSC, but when we need the stamp of approval from the "pig pen" to sit on it, that's a problem.

I never said that the nations in the GA were democracies - the point is that the GA IS a democracy - one nation, one vote.

[saturn_656]

$1:

the point is that the GA IS a democracy - one nation, one vote.

And that is a concept foreign to over half the nations in it. That's my point.

[bootlegga]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

$1:

the point is that the GA IS a democracy - one nation, one vote.

And that is a concept foreign to over half the nations in it. That's my point.

That's totally irrelevant - it's like saying that most of the politicians in Parliament are conservatives or liberals and so their POV is not important (depending on which side of the spectrum you sit).

Like it or not, the GA is a democracy and one that the West used ruthlessly during the Cold War until they lost the majority of seats in it. The USA had no problems using it during the Korean conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis and a number of other times in the late 40s, 50s and into the 60s.

The USA only lost faith in the GA only after it could no longer get its way. There's a word for that - hypocrite.

I'm not saying that I like the way the GA operates, but if the US and the rest of the West put a little more effort in, they would hold more say in the goings on of the GA and make it an important and properly functioning institution again.

Instead the West, and most notably the USA, has done exactly the same thing that that snotty kid down the block always used to do when he couldn't get his way - they took their ball and went home in a huff.

The only ones the US (and the West) has to blame for the dysfunction in GA is themselves. They should be engaging it, not ignoring it.

[saturn_656]

$1:

That's totally irrelevant - it's like saying that most of the politicians in Parliament are conservatives or liberals and so their POV is not important (depending on which side of the spectrum you sit).

Actually its more like saying the Canadian Senate isn't democratic because while they may practice it among themselves, they certainly don't use it to get there.

It's a valid view point.

$1:

he only ones the US (and the West) has to blame for the dysfunction in GA is themselves. They should be engaging it, not ignoring it.

Your argument is really screwy. First you criticize the US and the West for pulling back from the GA when they lost majority control, but then turn about and blame them for the current state of dysfunction.

Those who, as you say, no longer can exercise control.

Ever consider that back when the UN was led by the right thinking democracies of the world that things worked better? And that things are the way they are now because we are outnmbered by the Group of Those Doing It Wrong?

[bootlegga]

saturn_656 saturn_656:

$1:

That's totally irrelevant - it's like saying that most of the politicians in Parliament are conservatives or liberals and so their POV is not important (depending on which side of the spectrum you sit).

Actually its more like saying the Canadian Senate isn't democratic because while they may practice it among themselves, they certainly don't use it to get there.

It's a valid view point.

The institution itself is still democratic - and that's what the West (especially the USA) can't stand about it. The US marginalizes it because it can't get what it wants there, but the reality is that if the US wants more influence in the GA, all it has to do is engage it and it will gain influence. It may never dominate the GA in the same fashion it did in the UN's early days, but it still can get plenty of nations to support it - if it puts in the effort.

saturn_656 saturn_656:

$1:

he only ones the US (and the West) has to blame for the dysfunction in GA is themselves. They should be engaging it, not ignoring it.

Your argument is really screwy. First you criticize the US and the West for pulling back from the GA when they lost majority control, but then turn about and blame them for the current state of dysfunction.

Those who, as you say, no longer can exercise control.

Ever consider that back when the UN was led by the right thinking democracies of the world that things worked better? And that things are the way they are now because we are outnmbered by the Group of Those Doing It Wrong?

It's not screwy at all.

Try this - leave an engine running by itself for a few decades and then come back and see if it's still working in the same fashion as it was when you left. Odds are it won't be. Same goes for the GA. If you don't believe me, look up entropy.

The world's powers abandoned the GA and now they are surprised that the some of biggest bullies in the world run the place? Really? If they had stayed active in it and not written it off after they the lost the ability to control it, it might still work the way it did in the the UN's early days.

Had we stayed engaged in the GA, we would have more say in the goings on. But because we ignored it, we have next to no influence. It shouldn't come as a surprise at all.

[ShepherdsDog]

$1:

The institution itself is still democratic -

I guess the National Congress of the Communist Party of China is then too, by your definition ...one delegate one vote

[Thiizic]

lots of the times the troops are told what to say, but other times they are just adrenaline monkeys.

[ShepherdsDog]

Hi.....go fuck yourself.

[Gunnair]

Thiizic Thiizic:

lots of the times the troops are told what to say, but other times they are just adrenaline monkeys.

What do you base that assessment on?

[Thiizic]

my friends brother was in the army and he said that sometimes when camera crews came around the platoon leader made them talk about helping the children and if you say anything out of line then you have extra duties back at camp

[Thiizic]

Fuck you too Sheperds Dog

[Gunnair]

Thiizic Thiizic:

my friends brother was in the army and he said that sometimes when camera crews came around the platoon leader made them talk about helping the children and if you say anything out of line then you have extra duties back at camp

So, you actually have no real experience with this save for what a buddy's brother told you once?

Had you ended the post in question with... "but I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night"' I doubt I would have called you on it.

Keep that in mind when you drop more of these wise missives of yours.

[ShepherdsDog]

and and...and..nd this guy I know, his brother's best friend's cousin's roomate's ex boyfriend's dad told him he overheard it in a bar. You know Jack and Shit and Jack left town. Something tells me your stay here will be short, messy and and brutal....much like your conception

Thiizic Thiizic:

lots of the times the troops are told what to say, but other times they are just adrenaline monkeys.

[Newfy]

Nothing gets your adrenaline going like rape, murder and pillage!