Grab a fistful of garlic cloves and your trusty crucifix (if needed) and let's talk about the United Nations. This organization was founded in 1945 before the death of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Among the original goals, number one was "to save the world from the scourge of war." With such ambitious goals you might think there would have been some acknowledgement of the need of God's help, there wasn't.
Success would depend on mere humans, with a clearly defined mission and organization and reliance on man's ability to work together. During wars it was often said "that there are no atheist in foxholes;" apparently some were hiding out elsewhere.
The United Nations may be fatally flawed for at least two reasons; "mission creep," and the fact that it is a confederation of nations. Confederation did not work for us and was corrected when the Constitution and Bill of Rights were adopted by the 13 states. The ability to raise revenues through tariffs and a central government were essential for our new nation to survive.
The UN is different in structure and mission than the United States but faces similar challenges in putting forward a viable global body.
The UN has been near bankruptcy, funding depends on assessments of member nations which are based on the wealth of individual nations, and per capita income, Nations like the USA pay the lion's share. Nations can and do withhold payment of assessments because of policy disputes or for targeted items. The UN looks for alternative sources of funding and sees two promising initiatives. One is to tax foreign currency trade; another is to tax carbon emissions, the energy tax. The problem here is the same as with paying assessments; some nations may choose not to participate, which puts those countries that do at a disadvantage.
In 1998, the United Nations Foundation was founded as an advocate for peace and to support UN causes and activities. Billionaire Ted Turner donated $1 billion to ensure success.
As a tax-exempt organization, it is required to file IRS form 990 to show sources of revenues and expenditures. The foundation also receives funds from grants from various organizations, considerable investment income and other sources which in 2009 totaled $105 million.
The list of organizations receiving funds from the foundation is interesting. Among dozens listed are "the Humpty Dumpty Institute," the William J. Clinton Foundation, and the Sierra Club Foundation.
The lion's share of those receiving funds goes to nations outside of the U.S.; but within this country, the largest share went to two "mainstream" Protestant religious organizations who received more than $4 million. Purposes of the donations were under the heading of -- Women & Population, UN Strengthening, Children's Health, and Environment.
Most interesting in this IRS form is the Schedule G, where fundraising activities are reported. In 2009, the foundation reported that it paid just over $1 million to two groups for direct mail and Internet solicitation; they raised only $575,000, creating a loss of $427,000. This at least infers a lack of confidence in the foundation, and may be a sign of a larger problem.
The UN has a checkered record of successes and failures. Approval ratings of the UN have gone down steadily since 1953, but a poll in early 2011 found the UN's approval rating to be 60 percent in the United States, up 10 percent since last year. Demographics of those polled are unknown.
A poll among college students would yield a much different outcome than one among retirees. Approval ratings from polls are fickle at best. The same poll found that nine out of 10 Americans had never heard of the UN's Millennium Development Goals. These goals are seen in UN initiatives, such as Agenda 21, and a variety of "sustainability" plans.
Now, with UN Agenda 21 they want to tell us what sustainable development is and what it isn't. The UN also wants to control how we educate our children and an endless list of other controls that affect how our economy will grow, or not. Not surprisingly, liberals seem to have greater acceptance of these goals than conservatives.
Perhaps the UN should go back to its first goal, "to save the world from the scourge of war." That's a monumental goal and not one necessarily helped by invading a nation's laws and constitution.
Being a member of a global body may be an acceptable way to work for peace and there is evidence that peace can be helped along through assistance to the disadvantaged of the world.
Whatever the role of the U.S. in working for world peace, it must not do harm to its own citizens. There is no question that an energy tax would work against our economic recovery.
Americans also must determine their own course in the education of our youth and sustainability issues, something we can do without direction from the UN.
Reynolds lives in Pleasant View.
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