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  Marty commented on the article | over 2 years ago

  Swiping Ideas from the Swiss

  Having lived in Switzerland for 8 years, I'll second that there are plenty of demographic differences.  First off, municipal police are front and center in enforcing local, cantonal and federal laws, and they watch the local populace like hawks for compliance on things like car mufflers and healthcare coverage. Secondly, Swiss culture is based on the premise that everything must work for the community--the trains work on time, the street cleaners work on time, etc. The feeling behind this is that it is good for the community when things work.  What is good for us all is good for each of us.  Third, take a look at the salaries of the Swiss insurance company executives compared to the US companies.  If the Swiss compensation levels were 1/4 of the US levels, my hunch is the execs would be charged with civil and criminal offenses. Again, go back to the community.  And those Swiss insurance executives, as a block, know that it is a right to have complete access to the healthcare system, and that right does cost money.  The old story is true--God created Switzerland at the end of the 6th day, and finished, needed refreshment, and asked the Swiss for a glass of milk.  Certainly, they replied, that will be 5 francs 50 centimes.