Chris, Thanks for the information. I enjoyed reading it.
Harry ______________ Christoph wrote: >REH asked: > > There are some points that you don't make in your statements about the > > "peacefulness" of Switzerland. Those points may seem strange or even > > unfair but I do believe they need to be answered and you would be a good > > one to do just that. > > > > 1. Guns. It is my understanding that every household must have a gun and > > sixty days supply of food in their household. Is that true? > >Every member of the military has a gun (rifle or pistol), but not every >household has one, because there are more households (~3.5 million) than >members of the military (currently ~400,000). >Having a food supply for 2-3 weeks (basic necessities) in the basement >is recommended (not mandatory anymore, but many have it anyway). > > > > Is it > > still true that every man and boy are members of the military (reserve?) > > until the age of sixty and must maintain their own weapon and ammunition? > >Basically, every male citizen gets drafted at ~20, but not everyone >meets the requirements (for medical/psychological reasons or objection). >Regular military service ends at the age of 42 now. Personal weapon and >ammo are kept at home, locked up safely. Yup, that's safe, because the >nutcases are sorted out before they could enter the military. >(Btw, the Zug massacre you may have read about was not perpetrated > by a member of the army, but by a native Austrian with private guns > -- the same applies to the two other massacres in the past decade). > >I have heard that the US NRA is trying to instrumentalize this in >their pro-gun campaigns. However, there's a vast difference between >uncontrolled private gun ownership by "gun nuts"/weirdos and >gun ownership by carefully selected&trained members of the military. >Also, the traditional meaning of guns is different: Here, guns >symbolize defense against invasions from surrounding empires. >In the USA, guns symbolize dominion over others (traditionally >Natives and slaves) and their exploitation. That's the difference >between power over oneself and power over others. > > > > 2. What about the military training? How much? > >The basic training at age 20 is for 15 weeks, followed by regular >re-training in units of 20 days and annual target practice. >The lifetime military service lasts 300 days for regular soldiers >(longer for higher ranks). > > > > How comfortable are the Swiss with disobediance? > >Objectors of conscience can serve in community service (nursing homes, >hospitals, aid organizations etc.) that lasts 50% longer than the >military service. But they are required to explain their reasons >in order to be admitted to this service. > > > > 3. What about the attitude of the Swiss towards the rest of Europe? > > Especially the Northern Italians. > >It varies, of course. Mostly the attitude is open towards the people >but reserved towards the (EU's) political system. What should be >special about Northern Italians? Traditionally they're the largest >group of immigrants, so there are many well-integrated 2nd-/3rd- >generation Italians here. > > > > 4. What is Switzerland's immigration policy towards the rest of the world? > >Generous. 20% foreigners (EU average: 5%), one of the highest rates of >immigrants and asylum-seekers (somehow ironic without a colonist past). > > > If I wanted to come to Basle, Zurich or Geneva to teach voice and immigrate > > would I be welcome? > >Yes, if you have an employer or enough money or a reason to seek asylum... > > > Would it be as easy for me to come to you as you to me? > >I think it would be easier for you than for me, at least since the 9/11 >paranoia in the US. > > > > 5. With the participation in UN peacekeeping is there a threat to the > > neutrality? > >No, because our laws limit the participation to non-combatant, constructive >activities (e.g. organization of civil administration, election monitors, >building infrastructure). > > > > 6. Do you believe that the size of your population makes it easier for you > > to maintain your system along with the loyalty of each of your citizens? > >Yes, this helps to keep the political units small and overseeable. >But this doesn't mean that elements of the system couldn't be adopted by >larger countries. > > > > 7. How do you feel your country will fare in the coming European world > > where the potential is for you to become the same as Colorado is to the > > United States? > >Badly! In the EU system there is no place for de-centralized direct >democracy, transparency and neutrality. I (and a few EU citizens) think >that it would be best for the EU to adopt the Swiss system instead of the >other way 'round, but unfortunately, the EU is a corporate project (by the >"European Roundtable of Industrialists", www.ert.be) whose bosses could >care less about what the public wants. The EU structures are accordingly... > > > > 8. What state in the US do you figure that your societal structure > including > > the military, defense structure, arts, public health, education, etc. is > > the most like? > >I'm not familiar with the differences between US states, so I'll have to >pass this question on to Americans. (I think the question is academic >because no US state comes anywhere near. However, globalization is >reducing the distance...) > >HTH, >Chris ****************************** Harry Pollard Henry George School of LA Box 655 Tujunga CA 91042 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Tel: (818) 352-4141 Fax: (818) 353-2242 *******************************
--- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.377 / Virus Database: 211 - Release Date: 7/15/2002
