The U.N. explained

Tonight I will explain how the U.N. works.  Tomorrow I will explain why the Carbon County 9/12 group seems to have lost touch with reality with regard to the U.N., but first, let me walk you through the power of the United Nations.

Do you remember your history lesson about the Articles of Confederation, the document that governed the newly independent states after the American Revolution? All thirteen states had to agree on a policy before it could go into effect.  The central government had to ask states for troops, and it had no power to compel states to contribute.  The central government also lacked taxing authority.  

The government under the Articles did have some important accomplishments.  It opened up the Northwest Territory, negotiated a peace treaty with England, and made pacts with a number of Indian tribes.  Nevertheless, its weaknesses were apparent.  In a confederation the central government has only the power that the unit governments permit it to have.  The “Founding Fathers,” aware of the weakness in the Articles, called the Constitutional Convention and developed the federation we have today.

Back to the U.N.  It is a confederation.  It can’t raise troops unless nations volunteer them.  It can’t tax.  It can’t force countries to contribute.  There is no penalty to withdrawing from the U.N.  The U.N. has accomplished many things, and its peacekeeping operations have saved millions of lives, but it can’t coerce.  You get that?  It can’t coerce.  

Tomorrow I will explain the Carbon County 9/12 organization’s opinion with regard to the U.N. is outside the bounds of common sense and rationality.  Stay tuned.