Another call for U.S. exit from United Nations

Moments in UN history: Fidel Castro, president of Cuba, at a meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in September, 1960. (Photo: U.S. Library of Congress Digital Collection; photographer, Warren K. Leffler)Many conservatives believe the United Nations has outlived its usefulness, morphing into an imperial power intent on redistributing wealth from developed nations to the hands of tyrants.  That assessment has led us to call for the U.S. to withdraw our membership from the UN.

The latest conservative to call for a U.S. exit is National Review Online editor Jonah Goldberg.

Goldberg makes his case in an editorial published at Townhall (online), including criticism about China’s one-child policy, the UN’s efforts to assume control of the Internet and the (in my opinion) shameful inclusion of abusers of human rights on the council that claims to protect human rights.

I’ve written many articles criticizing the UN. For instance, in 2008, a UN official wrote an editorial for Al Jazeera. I noted:

[T]he United Nations food agency chief told delegates that billions of dollars are being wasted on feeding obese people in the West while millions face starvation.”

The official overlooked the fact that in the West, we feed ourselves.

UN goals were a threat to our sovereignty from the agency’s inception. This is a classic example of another idea implemented by Democrats with nary a thought to the long term consequences. In a previous column I pointed out implications in a speech by the chairman in 1946:

[E]ach member nation’s security “would be collectively guaranteed by adequate and effective means, and any aggression or attempt at aggression directed against them would be severely repressed.

The attacks on the U.S. in 2001 illustrate the failure of that premise, and many more failures could be listed.

Just like Democrats in the U.S., the UN is constantly in search of a way to raise money that can then be redistributed to supporters.

As President Barack Obama’s administration promotes his candidacy by using U.S. taxpayer dollars to expand food stamp usage—the advertising was done in Spanish—the UN  uses taxpayer dollars from around the world to promote Leftist ideology. The UN is constantly seeking ways to levy taxes on us, another trait in common with Democrats.

The UN Population Fund recently marked something called World Population Day with a theme of Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services. Here’s what the news page about that event said—I added the boldface:

Reproductive health is at the very heart of development and crucial to delivering the UNFPA vision — a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

That is, of course, an unachievable goal in a free society, not that freedom matters to organizations like the UN.

Goldberg’s essay is another in a long line of calls for the U.S. to leave an organization that many of us believe has become anti-Israel, anti-U.S. and anti-freedom in general. This isn’t a fantasy as some pundits claim. It’s a simple premise that could be done with the stroke of a pen. And the world would immediately become a better place because at present, the UN legitimizes the worst among us.

Read archived articles about the United Nations at The US Report.

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/July 13, 2012)

Comments

[Dave Gardner]

So THIS is another reason you don't support the UN?

The UN Population Fund recently marked something called World Population Day with a theme of Universal Access to Reproductive Health Services. Here’s what the news page about that event said—I added the boldface:

Reproductive health is at the very heart of development and crucial to delivering the UNFPA vision — a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

That is, of course, an unachievable goal in a free society, not that freedom matters to organizations like the UN."

You don't feel this is a worthy goal? Then shame on you.

Dave Gardner
Director of the documentary
GrowthBusters: Hooked on Growth

[Kay B. Day/Ed.]

Shame on you. Re-read why I criticized the goal. And don't impose your own impressions on my words.

I said this immediately after the passage you cited:
"That is, of course, an unachievable goal in a free society, not that freedom matters to organizations like the UN."

You leapt to this:
"You don't feel this is a worthy goal? Then shame on you."

I don't believe what I wrote should challenge a person with average reading comprehension skills.

Therefore, I suggest you re-read what I actually wrote and then if you still don't understand what is admittedly a loaded statement, although not in the manner you imply, come back here and post a note and I'll explain it all to you.~KBD

[Dave Gardner]

Kay, you might reread my comment and discover I did not overlook your view that about the goal being unachievable. I did not miss it. I don't think we can completely eliminate hunger on the planet, but I don't feel we should abandon that as a goal. Moving toward these goals is worthwhile. My reading and comprehension skills are just fine, thank you.

[Kay B. Day/Ed.]

The stated goal is a gateway to tyranny. It is also unachievable in a free society. Your reading skills may be fine, but your approach to liberty comes up short.