Is UN worthless?

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Ill only ask one rhetorical question. WHY DO THE FRENCH HAVE VETO POWER IN THE UN????????

Charles De Gaulle.

Through sheer chutz-pah, obstinancy, and -- pardon this -- gall, he forced the real powers that were among the Allies (USA, UK, USSR) to grant them a measure of equality. This was done to a) shut him up and, b) get him to support the allied war effort in something resembling an active fashion.

I do not say this to insult him. He was dealt a pretty weak hand and played it for far more of a share of the pot than he had a right to expect.

[kiwitt]

The UN should remain focused 4 things:

1) Environment: Making the world a healthy place
2) Human Rights: All people should be respected
3) Peace Keeping: When parties have agreed to a ceasefire
4) Rebuilding: When a nation is destroyed by war or nature

All other roles like diplomancy enforcement and sanctions should be controlled by individual nations.

[Samurai Waki]

I believe the UN still has use in the world, although I wish it was more deliberate and focused. Perhaps having swift votes on pressing issues would be a good thing, if there is an urgent matter than needs to be attended (such as an outbreak of genocide in some country) than a vote can be called on the spot to send peacekeepers and use them defensively or aggressively, anyone can vote, but because they are so compressed for time there is a time limit, those that make it can vote, and those that can't (including countries with veto powers) cannot vote at all. Right now the UN is a bloated Frog but with some reforms it could very well be an international police force dictated by the majority vote of nations.

EDIT: Also every country within the UN must also be willing to give it's soldiers the blue helmet if such an occasion occurs.

[AntiochusIII]

UN sub-organizations are doing good works throughout the 3rd world, and while the main organization is flawed and quite corrupted, and created originally, if I must say, by a few powers seeking to keep powers (those in the security council); it is still a forum where countries can talk and make their voices heard, for good or bad. Conflicts are resolved easier with a forum-for-all and, if the UN managed to reform itself it would be an excellent step for a more united world. Of course, any reform attempts are hard to come by unless some genius statesman-of-a-politician proposes something new and even then, as the most important nations in the UN simply can veto anything on their own and that they always compete for international influence with each other, things can hardly be successful.