Nice. My father worked and live in Zurich before leaving his homeland and migrating to the UK. Switzerland is so much cleaner and more scenic. I want to go to st Galen or Lugano for the weekend if I'm able,sometime soon

Reply 27

username2324315

Original post by Listers

Switzerland have one of the best economies in Europe despite not being a member of the EU. Also have a per capita double of that of England

Switzerland also have one of the lowest crime rates in the world, with most of their civilians being armed with well regulated Militia, and not being involved in a civil war since the 19th century.

It's a good country but I definitely wouldn't call it underrated, everyone (mostly Brexitters) talk about it like it's some sort of heaven which is completely free of any problems, but it's also a very highly taxed country and very expensive to live in.

I would still live there though, the way around problems (including my favourite of being completely neutral to wars) definitely makes it a very well governed country. :u:

Reply 28

inhuman

Original post by queen-bee

St. Gallen is kinda meh for an entire weekend.

Luzern I can recommend.

Reply 29

queen-bee

Original post by inhuman

St. Gallen is kinda meh for an entire weekend.

Luzern I can recommend.

You can be my tour guide :mmm:

Reply 30

inhuman

Original post by queen-bee

You can be my tour guide :mmm:

I am not sure if that is more creepy or if I had said I could me your tour guide :hmmmm:

Reply 31

Lovinlife2

Visiting this country in the next few days, excited! :biggrin:

Reply 32

queen-bee

Original post by inhuman

I am not sure if that is more creepy or if I had said I could me your tour guide :hmmmm:

It's a generous offer in a jokey way,don't worry I'm only joking

Reply 33

username2228735

Original post by 999tigger

Might not be a member of the EU but it would be in trouble without being a member of the EEA,.

It's not a member of the EEA.

Original post by 999tigger

It does have a very secretive and lucrative banking system, which the Nazis and others used quite well.

It's banking industry is not the reason for the nation's success. The nation became 'rich' pre-1934 (the year the Swiss Banking Act was brought into law). Moreover, banking secrecy, the hallmark of its banking sector, is officially over for non-Swiss citizens as of 2018. The effects of this is yet to be seen.

Original post by 999tigger

They didnt stand up to the Nazis, but let everyone do the fighting.

Again, false. Your view of both military and economic history of the nation is far too simplistic. You assume that Switzerland's role can be defined in black and white terms. You're correct that little military opposition was given to anti-Nazi forces. However, domestic support for Nazism and Hitler was near 0%. The Swiss media remained the only German-speaking medium that openly criticised the Nazi regime, and ideals such as Geistige Landesverteidigung created strong values associated as 'Swiss' and anti-totalitarianism. The Swiss military remains a purely defensive force and will only mobilise if the nation is under threat.

Reply 34

999tigger

1. Fine. Without having access to the EEA though it would struggle imo.
2.I didnt say it was the reason I just pointed out it has a lucrative banking system. The fact they stayed out of the war meant it was able to stay intact whilst other countries fought for freedom in Europe and which it now enjoys.
3. Its all very well wagging your finger and running opinion polls, whilst other nations were bankrupting themselves and losing millions of lives. Neutrality fine , but dont big it up about about what fierce opponents of the Nazis they were.

Reply 35

Listers

Original post by 999tigger

Might not be a member of the EU but it would be in trouble without being a member of the EEA,. It does have a very secretive and lucrative banking system, which the Nazis and others used quite well. It doesnt have a GDP per capita double that of the UK, well not according to the World Bank or IMF. They didnt stand up to the Nazis, but let everyone do the fighting.

Still a top country to live with one of the highest qualities of life.

What in the hell are you talking about? They aren't in the EU or the EEA.Plus the country was prosperous even before the country started their whole bank secrecy indulgence.

And yes they do have a higher GDP per capita.

The average swiss earns £63,000 while the average englishman earns £25,000

Reply 36

inhuman

Original post by queen-bee

It's a generous offer in a jokey way,don't worry I'm only joking

Haha, well I would be happy to. I have already taken two friends to Luzern :smile:

Reply 37

999tigger

Original post by Listers

- You missed the first point , which I gave way to aceadria post in #37.. I said EEA its just they have access.

- If you manage to stay out of wars, then you reap the benefit.

-The estimates either from the IMF or World Bank in 2015. They only do the UK.
For PPP, which better reflects cost of living.
2015
IMF SW $58,551 v UK $41,159 = 42% Higher
W Bank SW$59, 540 v UK $40,233 = 48% Higher.

Not exactly double. Now do tell us who these people are who underrate SW for being so amazing?

(edited 7 years ago)

Reply 38

Listers

Original post by 999tigger

Where the hell are you getting these stats from Switzerland have a GDP which was my initial argument of $80,675 and England have that off $43,771and this is from the IMF's website

http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=32&pr.y=8&sy=2015&ey=2015&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C668%2C914%2C672%2C612%2C946%2C614%2C137%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C453%2C960%2C968%2C423%2C922%2C935%2C714%2C128%2C862%2C611%2C135%2C321%2C716%2C243%2C456%2C248%2C722%2C469%2C942%2C253%2C718%2C642%2C724%2C643%2C576%2C939%2C936%2C644%2C961%2C819%2C813%2C172%2C199%2C132%2C733%2C646%2C184%2C648%2C524%2C915%2C361%2C134%2C362%2C652%2C364%2C174%2C732%2C328%2C366%2C258%2C734%2C656%2C144%2C654%2C146%2C336%2C463%2C263%2C528%2C268%2C923%2C532%2C738%2C944%2C578%2C176%2C537%2C534%2C742%2C536%2C866%2C429%2C369%2C433%2C744%2C178%2C186%2C436%2C925%2C136%2C869%2C343%2C746%2C158%2C926%2C439%2C466%2C916%2C112%2C664%2C111%2C826%2C298%2C542%2C927%2C967%2C846%2C443%2C299%2C917%2C582%2C544%2C474%2C941%2C754%2C446%2C698%2C666&s=NGDPDPC&grp=0&a=

Reply 39

username2228735

Original post by 999tigger

1. Fine. Without having access to the EEA though it would struggle imo.

What do you mean by 'having access to'?

Original post by 999tigger

2.I didnt say it was the reason I just pointed out it has a lucrative banking system. The fact they stayed out of the war meant it was able to stay intact whilst other countries fought for freedom in Europe and which it now enjoys.

That is precisely where you are wrong. Openly criticising a dictator and openly opposing Nazism increased its risk of invasion. Moreover, the freedom you claim it now enjoys is not only due to that fact; its sound governmental and political system, symbolised by a direct democracy is the driving force behind its freedom.

Original post by 999tigger

3. Its all very well wagging your finger and running opinion polls, whilst other nations were bankrupting themselves and losing millions of lives. Neutrality fine , but dont big it up about about what fierce opponents of the Nazis they were.