NationStates Jolt Archive

The other day I was thinking about Switzerland and I decieded that we should all be more like them.

They haven't been to war since they kicked the Austrians out.
They have a very moderate and easy going government.
They have been the founder of some great organisations ie the Red Cross and have been a safehaven in many conflicts.
They are a disciplined but not mental society.
They are very effeicent and extremely well organised (I knew a guy who went back to visit his home town after living in Australia for 20 years and the police arrested him becuase he hadnt paid a fine before he left).
The are environmentally friendly (I have an aunt and uncle who live there)... all grey water is recycled, recylcing is compulsory and they follow EU pollution legislation although they arent members.
Thier military is what is should be for.. defence ( and at that they have some seriously cool shit)

Although it has been said they are selfish and cold hearted lets face it, if everyone followed their example the world would be a better place.

Just a random thought

I agree completely...

...some bad stuff during WWII, storing the gold the Nazi's stole and whatnot, but hey, if you want truly independent banking, that's where you go. :p

EDIT: Damn good skiing too. :D

Not to mention the cheese and chocolate...

But, yeah. It sounds quite good to me. Not to mention the peace. With no war going on, we can stop concentrating so much on the military and use that money for other things, like solving poverty.

Not to mention the cheese and chocolate...

But, yeah. It sounds quite good to me. Not to mention the peace. With no war going on, we can stop concentrating so much on the military and use that money for other things, like solving poverty.

Actually, the Swiss do concentrate a lot on their military. That's why they have peace.

Not to mention the cheese and chocolate...

But, yeah. It sounds quite good to me. Not to mention the peace. With no war going on, we can stop concentrating so much on the military and use that money for other things, like solving poverty.

Funny you should say that - the Swiss have one of the most disciplined armies in the world and are backed by world-famous arms manufacturers. Plus, there is compulsory military service. When it is completed, you get your very own personal firearm.

But yes, I agree that it is in most aspects a nice country to aspire to. However, you need to remember that it is a pretty small nation, and what works for it might not for larger countries.

Actually, the Swiss do concentrate a lot on their military. That's why they have peace.

They have a draft, easy to have a big military that way. Not a bad system mind. They also have peace through diplomacy and intelligence.Guess how they stayed out of WW2?

Funny you should say that - the Swiss have one of the most disciplined armies in the world and are backed by world-famous arms manufacturers. Plus, there is compulsory military service. When it is completed, you get your very own personal firearm.

But yes, I agree that it is in most aspects a nice country to aspire to. However, you need to remember that it is a pretty small nation, and what works for it might not for larger countries.

Their population is smaller than that of major U.S. cities.

So, no, their policies would NOT work in large countries.

well that just squashed the idea... :rolleyes:

There are things to be admired about switzerland and then there is the other stuff.Nazi gold and corupt banking system. My general attitude aboutt eh Swiss is they are happy as long as you have money and they can get it out of you other than that they are happy for you just to f**k off.

Also I find their attitude to their state total racist and out of touch. I have been they several times and never once see ablack, Aisan, chineese person. i found that firstly it is obscenly hard to have Swiss passport. Also they seem to hate having people emmigrate to their country. Everyone seems to be on work visa. Like I said if you can provide them with something they seem to like you. Other than that...

they have well funded socialised programmes like an excellent public transport systems (which i've had the joy of using) and (from what i understand) excellent state schools

After all, it’s not that awful - you know what the fellow said . . . In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed - they produced Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce . .? The cuckoo clock.

Graham Greene and Carol Reed, The Third Man (1949; London: Lorrimer, 1968), p. 114.

The Swiss are great, and have a country that runs like a well-maintained clock. They have their downside, though (xenophobic, for example), but nothing too bad.

But to assume that their system would work for any other culture besides their own is, well... naive. Nobody has ever run the show like the Swiss, and for good reason. They're not the fucking Swiss.

Take America for example... :p :p :p :p

We'd be bankrupt in ten years.

After all, it’s not that awful - you know what the fellow said . . . In Italy for thirty years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, bloodshed - they produced Michaelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce . .? The cuckoo clock.

Yeah, that and Albert Einstein. (He wasn't born there, but he was raised there)

The other day I was thinking about Switzerland and I decieded that we should all be more like them.

They haven't been to war since they kicked the Austrians out.
They have a very moderate and easy going government.
They have been the founder of some great organisations ie the Red Cross and have been a safehaven in many conflicts.
They are a disciplined but not mental society.
They are very effeicent and extremely well organised (I knew a guy who went back to visit his home town after living in Australia for 20 years and the police arrested him becuase he hadnt paid a fine before he left).
The are environmentally friendly (I have an aunt and uncle who live there)... all grey water is recycled, recylcing is compulsory and they follow EU pollution legislation although they arent members.
Thier military is what is should be for.. defence ( and at that they have some seriously cool shit)

Although it has been said they are selfish and cold hearted lets face it, if everyone followed their example the world would be a better place.

Just a random thought

They are xenophobic (both the government, and the mass of people, if the behaviour of their football fans - not hooligans, fans - is anything to go by).
Yet this dislike of foreigners isn't borne out if a black face happens to have a million pounds he's plundered from his countries economy.
Need i mention the Nazi gold connection?
Their economy is based upon, firstly, acting as mercenaries for the first 300 years of their existence and secondly, having no moral qualms whatsoever about who is allowed to bank there.

and, worst of all, they let Phil Collins in...

I'll never forgive them for that.

Also I find their attitude to their state total racist and out of touch. I have been they several times and never once see ablack, Aisan, chineese person. i found that firstly it is obscenly hard to have Swiss passport. Also they seem to hate having people emmigrate to their country. Everyone seems to be on work visa. Like I said if you can provide them with something they seem to like you. Other than that...

Just because theres no black, asian or chinese people there doesnt mean they are racist. Ive got no black, asian or chinese people in my house but my family isnt racist.

Yeah, that and Albert Einstein. (He wasn't born there, but he was raised there)

That's nurture, not production. ;)

Just because theres no black, asian or chinese people there doesnt mean they are racist. Ive got no black, asian or chinese people in my house but my family isnt racist.

I wasn't really using that as my point for racism and reading again I understand where you come from.

As I understand it to get a passport you need to be blood related...makes it kinda hard if you happen to be Chineese etc. That is ot on selfish, I think it is racist.

Personally I would put it up there with the attitudes of the Nazis.

I hope that system is not working I really do.

I believe you can deposit money in their banks no questions asked so that could be a plus.
For some people that is. ;)

There are things to be admired about switzerland and then there is the other stuff.Nazi gold and corupt banking system. My general attitude aboutt eh Swiss is they are happy as long as you have money and they can get it out of you other than that they are happy for you just to f**k off.

Also I find their attitude to their state total racist and out of touch. I have been they several times and never once see ablack, Aisan, chineese person. i found that firstly it is obscenly hard to have Swiss passport. Also they seem to hate having people emmigrate to their country. Everyone seems to be on work visa. Like I said if you can provide them with something they seem to like you. Other than that...
True. They don't really allow immigration. That's one way of keeping costs down. You don't get refugees who require public funds to get them on their feet and integrated.

True. They don't really allow immigration. That's one way of keeping costs down. You don't get refugees who require public funds to get them on their feet and integrated.

That's fine economically but it also say's that you don't want 'other' people in your land. I don't doubt for a moment that the Red Cross et al do a grand job around the world. But I don't believe the Swiss buy into the concept of one world...one bit.

I would rather live in a land where people get on with one another no matter what (yes I know I'm being idealistic) than a country which seeks to keep out anything that isn't Swiss.

However it's not just the Swiss I find Austrians have a simialr view and Bavarians...jeez where do you start with them. No wonder bavarians think Swiss are open minded. :rolleyes:

maybe it's just that part of the world. Olde worldy conservative farming country.