McCain's League of Democracies

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

McCain has suggested creating a global democracy club to pick up some of the UNs slack. It's been bandied about that the UN and all post-war international institutions must either reform or become obsolete in a hanging world. I know some on this board already think the UN is obsolete.

Thoughts?

[OswaldTheOsprey]

McCain has suggested creating a global democracy club to pick up some of the UNs slack. It's been bandied about that the UN and all post-war international institutions must either reform or become obsolete in a hanging world. I know some on this board already think the UN is obsolete.

Thoughts?

It would still be an internationalist meddler. I'll let this old cartoon from 1919 speak for me.

OswaldTheOsprey


Bronstrup, The San Francisco Chronicle

[Mr. Wit]

McCain has suggested creating a global democracy club to pick up some of the UNs slack. It's been bandied about that the UN and all post-war international institutions must either reform or become obsolete in a hanging world. I know some on this board already think the UN is obsolete.

Thoughts?

I think the United States should withdraw from the United Nations. I feel like some of these people want to create a world state, where sovereignty becomes obsolete...

[OswaldTheOsprey]

McCain has suggested creating a global democracy club to pick up some of the UNs slack. It's been bandied about that the UN and all post-war international institutions must either reform or become obsolete in a hanging world. I know some on this board already think the UN is obsolete.

Thoughts?

I think the United States should withdraw from the United Nations. I feel like some of these people want to create a world state, where sovereignty becomes obsolete...

You are spot on. However, McCain's League of Democracies would be no better.

OswaldTheOsprey

[Peter1469]

I think that we should create a League of Democracies where we could conduct our meaningful diplomacy.  I think that we should stay in the UN in order to use our veto – a hell of a lot.  And we can spy on everyone at the UN HQ in NYC. 

[Mr. Dirlewanger]

I think that we should create a League of Democracies where we could conduct our meaningful diplomacy.  I think that we should stay in the UN in order to use our veto – a hell of a lot.  And we can spy on everyone at the UN HQ in NYC. 

The West will have to cede some power (i.e. veto) to the East (i.e. China or Japan)if the UN is to remain viable. Then again, maybe the UN isn't desirable at all. I personally belive that some kind of international body is needed.

Oswald, I don't think it necessarily must conflict with our sovereignty.

[OswaldTheOsprey]

I think that we should create a League of Democracies where we could conduct our meaningful diplomacy.  I think that we should stay in the UN in order to use our veto – a hell of a lot.  And we can spy on everyone at the UN HQ in NYC. 

The West will have to cede some power (i.e. veto) to the East (i.e. China or Japan)if the UN is to remain viable. Then again, maybe the UN isn't desirable at all. I personally belive that some kind of international body is needed.

Oswald, I don't think it necessarily must conflict with our sovereignty.

Well, Mr. D., a foreign entanglement is a foreign entanglement, IMHO.

OswaldTheOsprey

[Vermouth]

McCain has suggested creating a global democracy club to pick up some of the UNs slack. It's been bandied about that the UN and all post-war international institutions must either reform or become obsolete in a hanging world. I know some on this board already think the UN is obsolete.

Thoughts?

Another bloated institution? No!

Form specific temporary coalitions for short-term goals of national interest.

[Peter1469]

A league of Democracies would be able to enact global improvement and self-help projects without having to contend with negotiations and vetoes from totalitarian nations who clearly take different views on these topics.  I am not taking about a military alliance such as NATO. 

[Vermouth]

A league of Democracies would be able to enact global improvement and self-help projects without having to contend with negotiations and vetoes from totalitarian nations who clearly take different views on these topics.  I am not taking about a military alliance such as NATO. 

How realistic is it to define membership based on the form of government? How is McCain going to define "democracies" to include the countries he wants and exclude Russia? Once a country is in the league, and becomes totalitarian, how do you kick them out?

[Mr. Wit]

A league of Democracies would be able to enact global improvement and self-help projects without having to contend with negotiations and vetoes from totalitarian nations who clearly take different views on these topics.  I am not taking about a military alliance such as NATO. 

How realistic is it to define membership based on the form of government? How is McCain going to define "democracies" to include the countries he wants and exclude Russia? Once a country is in the league, and becomes totalitarian, how do you kick them out?

I don't think there are many true democracies in the world. I think there's some country that's a direct democracy, but I'm not sure...Can somebody confirm this?

The United States is not a democracy. It is a constitutional representative republic - or something along those lines.

[Peter1469]

You both have valid points.  Let’s say that we would limit the League to non-totalitarian governments.  The initial founding document could provide for the expulsion of a member who fell under a totalitarian government. 

[Vermouth]

You both have valid points.  Let’s say that we would limit the League to non-totalitarian governments.  The initial founding document could provide for the expulsion of a member who fell under a totalitarian government. 

How will you define totalitarian? Unless it's completely objective, countries will get around the definition. The only reason to do this is because we have given up on the UN. Is reforming the UN no longer a possibility?

[Mr. Wit]

You both have valid points.  Let’s say that we would limit the League to non-totalitarian governments.  The initial founding document could provide for the expulsion of a member who fell under a totalitarian government. 

How will you define totalitarian? Unless it's completely objective, countries will get around the definition. The only reason to do this is because we have given up on the UN. Is reforming the UN no longer a possibility?

China. North Korea. Cuba. Iran. That's how I define totalitarian.

[Vermouth]

China. North Korea. Cuba. Iran. That's how I define totalitarian.

That's it?

What conditions in those countries would have to change for you to consider them non-totalitarian?