Yeah, just don't ask my wife what the best language is. She's a linguistics type and to her English is one of the most abominable languages ;)

And as I understand it, they dont just allow willy-nilly immigration to destroy their culture either.

I thought of Switzerland as a bastion of socialism now. Maybe I am wrong. One doesnt hear a lot about Switzerland, so this was an interesting article.

Hadn't thought of that...Thanks.

Another factoid to go into the new book!

English is also the best language for vocal music, with the shortest words and variety of rhymes!

I often try to get across to people that assimilation into one countries or another's culture is a good thing.
Do we not like the different cultures expressed to their fullest degree within the context of a nation...I submit, we do indeed; otherwise there would be no reason to visit, to experience and to appreciate these small countries. Not to mention, if all were homogeneously alike, it would be boring as hell....and while on the subject, Nationalism is a good thing, not bad...so long as socialism doesn't rear it's ugly head. That is what happened in Germany.

Simply...regardless of what the leftest say...We Like it That Way!

America was meant to be different, diverse by it's welcoming freedom loving nature but you have to have a common culture, a common language and reliable laws to pull it off.

And...Yes!, the world would benefit tremendously if we all had a common language to speak, to communicate without confusion or miss-translations.
Nothing says they can't retain their traditional languages but it is my learned opinion that the English language is the best language to be considered universal by it's very nature.

Just like the American Culture, (was, anyway), being made up of many cultures...so too is our language and the easiest language that can assimilate any word, concept or metaphor from any other language and we have the largest vocabulary of any other language as well.

Metaphors are our key strength, as I am fond of stating: Conscious soars on the Wings of those Metaphors.

Great article!

A few notes:
1) Switzerland has been able to maintain a decentralized government structure and kudos to them. But they also tightly control immigration, so their culture remains monolithic. That's a HUGE key to maintaining things. The US Constitution only began to fail once diversity of culture started becoming the norm - not the exception. If Switzerland joins the EU, they will rapidly disintegrate as their cultural norms are sacrificed to the god of diversity.

2) Subsidiarity is a fantastic principle and was the original principle of the federal government. As States' rights were undermined (and then completely suborned by the 17th Amendment), this principle faded into obscurity. We can look at any number of federal programs in the United States (Common Core, nationalized healthcare, etc.) to see that subsidiarity (local control) is by far the better policy.

3) This is very similar to the referendum process used by many States or to the Amendment process of the Constitution, but unless the people are voting on every single issue, I don't think this is pure democracy. I still applaud the Swiss for their perseverance!

4) Free Trade is great! I think one of the things that has really benefited the Swiss are their (in)famous Swiss bank accounts! Because of their intentional apartisan nature, they can stay out of the "entangling alliances" George Washington warned us of. This is one area I really wish the US would more fully adopt!

5) Again, see Washington's Farewell Address for his warnings to our nation regarding long-term alliances.

6) Yes! And much of this is due to lower tax rates and lower government burden. If only our Federal government was as hands-off!

"Not perfect, but better."

Well said.

Changes have been noted since the late 1800's but even though service is compulsory...they have never wared against or in defense of anyone...they have managed to stay neutral on that front.

Compulsory armed service means you do not own your life and can be compelled to violate all of your moral values while being 'ordered' to kill someone with whom you have no quarrel and there is no moral reason to kill them. This must be a choice left to the individual. Switzerland used to protect the wealth of any who wanted to store their assets there and now have given in to the IRS and the central bank of the US demands to know who has money there, how much and turn it over to the government of any country demanding it.
Democracy is the tyranny of the majority and is not a good system of governing. It always decays into absolute control of the populace through voting which emboldens the collective to demand the right to control others and their resources.
The only way to remain free in a world that can identify and quantify every transaction will be to find a way to prevent intelligence gathering by any state and being a permanent traveler to prevent being the subject of investigation.

Thanks Dean. Seems Switzerland and the original vision for America had a lot in common.

We know, but who has the guts to play it...we might be surprised...if not, we can always go back to the ole inequitable system...NOT!

Another curiosity about Switzerland is that they are required, more or less, to be armed. All of them.
Yet they have very little firearm violence.
Curious isn't it?
The guns don't cause crime. People do.

I hope that you are correct, Olduglycarl. However, it is a dangerous game to play and may not turn out so well.

Free trade in Switzerland is an imperative and that is exactly what Trump is trying to do here...fear not, the tariff war is only a means to that end.