Can we  reduce human misery  spending defense funds   for reducing human misery worldwide through' UN ?
444217
Probably not, but it wouldn't hurt to try. The people who think that increasing weapons stockpiles is the right thing to do haven't cured humanity of its misery.
416795
I would probably just go out to a poor developing country, maybe in Africa, and try to invest it in the infra structure of the country, maybe try to start a "free educational program" for any family supporting individual. Maybe I will just go there and try to relieve some suffering, in any of its forms, ask the people how would the money would keep itself being reinvested so that there could be some actual "change" among the people that were suffering.
606687
We spend far too much on defense (especially on foolish space programs) and social programs are in the gutter.  This is the neo-con's dream come true, the Libertarian vision, and we are seeing the consequences of such selfishness and lack of humanity; homelssness on the rise, elders who served our country in the times of real war having to choose between eating or buying their medications, drug addiction, job loss, and overall a national psychological state of mind that borders on psychosis.  People have lost all vlaues in regard to community and they say "family values" well, families do not work in a vacuum and to allow your nieghbor to starve just so you can get that one more useless peice of entertainment or other valueless items is a sign of mental illness.  \n\nWe need more funding for social services such as Medicaid.  Wake up America!
792032
Not enough.  If those who made over a million (even 100,00) a year,  and there are plenty of "stars" and politicians who do, would donate a percentage to feeding the hungry and housing the homeless here in the U.S.  we would become a stronger and healthier nation.  I guess it is more important to buy a 2 million dollar earring or vacation in the Hampton's.  Then we wonder what is wrong with this country. I am not saying just the people mentioned above, but anybody, who has more than they need.  Why look down at those who are not as fortunate, instead of trying to bring them up?  Is there money going to be of any help when we have killed half of our own people off through drugs and violence?  No, because this is what other countries have been waiting for.  Greed and stupidity will take us all down in time.
350219
How about all the money we spend on foreign aid?\nHow about home-aid, for more Kool-aid.\nPersonally, I'm broke.
543885
Isn't the United Nations a fulfillment of that purpose?
742253
I'd like to know exactly what those funds are for, since the soldiers have to do without helmet inserts that protect them from the percussion of explosions, and useful flak jackets, and jeeps held together with bubble gum, rubber bands and prayers.\n\nWhy isn't there a special investigator/investigation into the spending of our money on this "war"?
594048
Whatever it is, it is too much.  We need to kick that sham organization out of the U.S. and stop paying dues to what has become a total joke.  The U.N. is useless and is actually an impediment to getting anything done globally.
240599
One thing to keep in mind is that anytime money is spent on war it is usually in the form of debt.  Wars are paid for by borrowing money, or by raising taxes.  Neither one of these is desirable.  Eventually someone has to pay for the war.  Just because we spend the money on war does not necessarily mean that that same money would have gone to the poor or other social programs.\n\nGeneral MacArthur summed it up by saying:  "The powers in charge keep us in a perpetual state of fear, keep us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervor with the cry of grave national emergency. Always there has been some terrible evil to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it by furnishing the exorbitant sums demanded. Yet, in retrospect, these disasters seem never to have happened, seem never to have been quite real.”\n\nActually, the US gives more than just financial donations.  It provides military presence.  It provides the ability to trade through free trade agreements.  It provides benchmarks for other countries to follow the lead.\n\nThe US does give the highest dollar amount than any other country in the world.\n\nSee the supporting source for an in depth report on how the US aids other countries relative to the rest of the world.
72808
hmm..wasting money on what?....exploring? Yes maybe your right, maybe the monies should be used for Bush's wars...not enough suffering yet after all the hundreds of billions wasted on death and greed...\nmaybe its just time the U.S. brought in a new leader..a true leader..wasting money going to Pluto..is certainly more noble than going to war
938817
Do we really want to bathe in the milk (or oil) of human misery?\nGod! I hope not. Let's try and keep some dignity over this entire disgusting mess.
593198
Nothing. After WWII, we basically founded and funded the UN as a way to  prevent other hot wars. And prevent starvation, genocide, and other world problems. Works well, doesn't it?\nWe got our language, freedom, Constitution, and values LONG before the United Nations. Get them out of the US, and the US out of the UN!
888190
I think we should feed and shelter our poor AND have a strong military. Screw sending money to Palestine and Egypt or any other country that hates us - spend that money to take care of our own.
408850
Supposedly to promote peace and wealth throughout the world. http://www.un.org/english/
690309
Why? So the already wretched, impoverished lives of the common people of both countries can be further degraded and made miserable? \n\nThe leadership of both countries should be ashamed that they spend their limited resources on war and preparing for war while their people suffer unspeakable misery. \n\nIs there not already enough suffering?
1109501
No, I don't think so. US is contributing very little money to help clear poverty around the world. Only UK and Australia did that largely. I'm not sure with this answer.
701628
I think the US should withdraw from the UN.  It has become uneffective and is mostly funded by the US.   The vote for donation is out of wack.  Nowhere else do those with the cash bow down and humble themselves to those who have been proven failures.  IE... Soviets, France, Most of Africa, etc....\nMost of the countries in the UN are all mouth and no money or support to back it up.