Switzerland, a country that works: Not perfect, but as countries go, it's hard to find one better

Washington Times ^ | 08/13/2014 | Richard Rahn

[SeekAndFind]

Switzerland is not perfect, but as countries go, it is hard to find one that is much better. The more people know about Switzerland, the higher regard they tend to have for it. By almost any measure of human accomplishment, and particularly in creating a most successful country governance model, the Swiss are clearly No. 1 in the world.

Switzerland is a small, landlocked nation without much in the way of natural resources. It has managed to stay out of wars for two centuries and developed a long-term multilingual and multireligious democracy without strife. There is a rule of law with competent and unbiased judges and strong protections for private property.

Among the countries of the world, Switzerland ranks No. 1 in “life satisfaction” (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Better Life Index); No. 1 in “global competitiveness” (World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index); No. 2 in “labor -force participation rate” (OECD Labor Force Statistics); No. 3 in “happiness” (United Nations World Happiness Report); No. 4 in “economic freedom” (Fraser Institute and Cato Institute Economic Freedom of the World Report); No. 7 in “per-capita income” on a purchasing-power parity basis (International Monetary Fund World Economic Outlook); No. 2 in “overall prosperity” (Legatum Institute’s Prosperity Index); and No. 1 in “life expectancy at birth” (OECD Better Life Index).

Switzerland also ranks higher than average among the OECD countries (the 35 most-developed economies in the world) in levels of education and student test scores, and has lower levels of air and water pollution. Civil liberties are strongly protected, including freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and even the right to own guns. It does not get much better than this.

[ken5050]

Try and get into Switzerland illegally, and if you manage it, then try and stay there.

See the connection?

[Mears]

This will all change——and in the not too distant future.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2014/08/11/uk-sweden-borg-immigration-idUKKBN0GB13T20140811

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[Vigilanteman]

Another interesting factoid is that 20% of the Swiss workforce is foreign. The requirements for a guest worker visa are strict.

Obtaining Swiss citizenship is no small feat and is stricter still. Among other things, it requires years of effort and the overwhelming support of the community in which you reside.

There is none of this automatic citizenship as a birthright because your Mama happened to sneak in illegally and drop you here.

[I want the USA back]

Because they control their borders and don’t tolerate crime.
Also, they voted to block new houses of indoctrination and jihadi-terror training.

[nuconvert]

“as countries go, it’s hard to find one better”

There is no better country than the USA

[Huskrrrr]

Neutrality during armed conflicts helps, too.

[Lorianne]

Check the demographics. It’s not easy to emigrate to Switzerland.

[Don Corleone]

If Switzerland didn’t exist the world would have created it. It performs a necessary function in a global society convulsed by every imaginable dereliction of conscience possible.

[Da Coyote]

Perhaps I missed it, but betcha there are few Muslims there.

[Gay State Conservative]

They protect their borders and spend next to nothing on defense.And they’re surrounded by civilized,peaceful (and *prosperous*) nations.

[Happy_Regicide]

Does the article point out that Switzerland manages this by acting as the money launderer for every tyrant, crook, drug smuggler and gangster of the world?

And that, while they assist the dictators and despots of the world in every way possible, they walk around declaring the moral superiority of thier “neutrality”?

“Neutrality in the face of evil, IS Evil” [My dad.]

[DJ MacWoW]

6 Weeks
48%

[GeronL]

and a central government that can’t do a lot without the Cantons agreeing to it

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Perhaps I missed it, but betcha there are few Muslims there.

According to 2012 estimates conducted by government of Switzerland, Muslims represent 4.9% of the total population.

In 2007 the Bern city council rejected plans to build one of the largest Islamic cultural centers in Europe.

88.3% of Muslims in Switzerland are foreigners (56.4% from former Yugoslavia (mostly Bosniaks, and Albanians from Kosovo), 20.2% from Turkey and 6% from Africa (3.4% from North Africa). Very few from the Middle East.

[Gay State Conservative]

It performs a necessary function in a global society convulsed by every imaginable dereliction of conscience possible.

It's my understanding (and I'm willing to be proven wrong on this) that Switzerland didn't cover herself in glory during WWII due to her cooperation with the Nazis.Of course I understand that to whatever degree she *did* cooperate with Hitler that cooperation might not have been entirely voluntary.

[Ultima]

That’s Sweden not Switzerland but IIRC Switzerland has also embraced the insanity of mass non-white immigration.

[SeekAndFind]

RE: Check the demographics. It’s not easy to emigrate to Switzerland.

TRUE. They are very SELECTIVE when it comes to who can be a permanent resident, and even MORE SELECTIVE as to who can become a SWISS citizen.

[ken5050]

I remember in the late 1980’s...we’re driving towards Interlaaken...all of a sudden, traffic ( two lane road) comes to a dead stop..we see police cars and flashing lights up ahead..I get out to look..we’re next to this big meadow..we can see sheep herded up against the road..all of a sudden, the entireside of this huge cliff opens up..and two fighters roll out and take off...I think they were Hawker Hunters..unreal..

[Mears]

“That’s Sweden not Switzerland “

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Oh man-——time for a nap.:-)

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