My high school has a diplomatic simulations team, and I've been doing mockup UN sessions for the last four years. I should like to think I have a pretty good idea of what that body does and doesn't do.

Now ETNO is recanting... as I said, some media spotlighting discourages the folks who like to do things "quietly".

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2012/06/08/is-the-u-n-trying-to-tax-the-internet/

So now that was successfully opposed, they're trying another trick:

"However, despite the reports, ETNO says that it is not asking the UN to tax the internet. While the ETNO does not deny that it believes that the way that content providers use the internet should be changed, it stopped short of calling for an actual tax, saying instead that it wants telecommunications network operators to consider making deals with content providers. Additionally, the ETNO has hinted that significant changes to the ITR are sure to come; the treaty has not been altered much in the nearly 25 years it has been in existence while the internet has actually changed dramatically."

Anything, any way to get their fingers in your pocket.

Besides, the U.N. doesn't tax directly. That wasn't the point (except to generate interest). It levies dues on member states. They come up with (or not) the monies however they do it. 

I don't want some European Telecommunications fat cats getting into my pocket through a sneaky move via the U.N. (or any which way). I should think you don't either... thus the recommendation re contacting your representatives.

I tried finding any "Ratification of Taxation of Member States" in the UN Charter, but couldn't find it.

Never said that, did I? Try not attributing to me things I never said as well as non-issues not relevant to the OP.

And yes. They seem to be recanting/backtracking.

No, they really aren't. They're just saying "We never called that thing we never called a tax a tax.". I will, however, admit that the furor over this has managed to get the ETNO to notice and release a statement, which is a reaction even though it doesn't do anything.

It kind of makes me think that this whole mess might have been jinned up just to inflame nationalistic sentiments in an election year, and create the associated "USA! USA!" dance when it inevitably didn't pass. But that would be giving either campaign far too much credit.

I also didn't mention the intricacies of porphyrin metabolism. Out of all the replies you were the only one to 'perceive' such an 'implication'.

I've been the only one bothering to talk to you for the last seven posts. Which probably means nobody else cares any more, and is (at least temporarily) my exit cue. If something new and insightful is brought up, I might be back. If not... goodbye.

True dat, brother. The UN only confuses people by issuing documents criticizing good Israeli friends for pouring burning white phosphorus on some irrelevant civilians, and speaks of attrocities when US "secure" the few remaining sources of oil that, by some divine mistake probably, are usually located in certain heathen, god-forgotten countries. All the talk about secret torture camps does not help either, when the guests of such fine resorts as Gautanamo Bay camp spend their time there completely willingly to recover from the horrors they had to endure. 

So let's dismantle the UN together with the obsolete concept of some international consensus, and let's push the democracy forward the effective way - unilaterally, using whatever means it takes to achieve the goals of those, who can only know what's best for everyone. 

Agreed. And what the hell is that UNICEF thing about? For seventy years plus they have had a very unhealthy obsession with children. Something very funny going on there, we all know children need to draw on their own resources to make their way in the world. 

This is pretty naive. Don't get me wrong you are right to criticize Isreal but you also have to be consistent in your criticisms. The reason the U.N focuses on Isreal so much is because of the large Islamic Bloc. Most those countries in turn have much worse human rights situations then Isreal. Just look at some of their anti-blasphemy laws or the persecution of minority groups such as the Sunnis. The focus on Israel is thus a perfect example of how mean spirited politics controls the U.N and every time the U.N ever brings up human rights it is a joke.

Also how exactly does the U.N spread Democracy? Can you give a single example ever? Considering all it's non democratic members, some of which have vetos, this seems like a odd thing to say...

Also the U.N failing to stop the U.S from doing everything it wants to is not a point in it's favor, it just makes it more of a joke. Does any country actually care what the U.N does? Also as a purely technical point the U.S isn't after oil, it wants to make sure countries continue to trade oil in American Dollars, it doesn't care about physically controlling the actual wells.

The U.N is fine as a platform for countries to communicate through but it fails horribly at accomplishing anything or pushing any sort of agenda. Giving the U.N any sort of power or even taking it seriously would be a horrible idea.

After more than 7,000 missile/mortar attack directed solely at Israeli civilians? Unless the irrelevant civilians you mentioned happened to be happen to be in your opinion, Israeli? 

They sure as hell don't like taking on the Israeli Army. They hide themselves and their munitions among te civilian populace. Cowards. They do that for the PR spin you swallow and spew back. I say, "Tough titty".  They support terrorists? They get what they deserve. No matter what kills terrorists and their supporters, they're just as dead - which is just fine by me since their basis for this terrorism is anti-Semitism. They have vowed to destroy Israel by any and every means and refuse to budge from that. So, who cares what happens to them? Examine your own motives for supporting them.

It's spelled "Israel", and no, he isn't.

When you have an enemy who has vowed to destroy/kill you, you don't weep when he is killed - if you're normal. You wake up earlier and dispatch him. What killed him? "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."

My sarcasm detector went to the red around here...

And exploded here

I prefer "Isntreal" myself.   Boo hoo poor Isntreal.  Plant yourself in the middle of Arab neighbors and run them out of their homes to build high-rise apartment buildings, and then throw up your hands and say, "Woe is me!  I am surrounded by enemies!"   Idiots did it to themselves.  They get neither my envy nor my sympathy.   But oh, Isntreal was founded because of all the intense persecution at the Holocaust!   Remind me how many Arabs participated in the Holocaust again?

Anyway, back to the internet (if that indeed is the real subject...which I doubt):   the internet most definitely requires international standards.  The deployment of things like HTML5 and IPv6 has proven just about as difficult as getting CPU's off of the x86 instruction set.   TCP/IP has tons of relics in their packet headers which would be really nice if we could optimize.  Whether that standards organization is backed by the UN is of secondary importance to me; just so long as we have legit network engineers running the show and they are effective in rolling out improved standards.

This pretty much.

Oh, um, everybody......

#38 was what we in the trade call 'sarcasm'.....

Oh....this 'trade' about which I speak is 'English Comprehension'.

OK, so it's not a 'trade'....but you get my drift....

Hopefully.