>>>Don't forget Murphy's Golden Rule
>
>Yep, I get it. The lesson has to be that there's no genius in selecting a convenient interpretation that advantages yourself. As always, somebody needs to be the adult. In the UN's case, the US behaves the adult, stumping up the cash, providing the premises, gritting teeth at bad behavior by despot representatives, and doing it all because despite its ills, collapsing the UN by dis-empowering most states, is a path to unrest and world turmoil.

When playing armchair general, I wonder if balancing the popular vote not with "state" constructs, but with taxes paid (including corporate taxes!) might be a better way in current situation. Plebs using something more popular vote-similar to balance power given by voting schemes where more affluent citizens (those paying LOTS more in case of military action) had more voting power is clearly recognized since the Gracci.

Adding some regulation (like the need to hold shares for a certain time if wanting to exercise voting rights "payed" for by corporate taxes) plus disallowing lobbying cost as tax-reducting might give more power back to those who should be in charge - compared to company execs using tax shelters and lessening remaining tax due to payed lobbyism ;-)

Plus it might give new meaning (and added motivation) to shareholder value ;-)