Swiss vote to reject world's highest minimum wage

[hellheaven1987]

Well, looks like Swiss is more sane than other people around the world.

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to introduce what would have been the highest minimum wage in the world in a referendum.

Under the plan, employers would have had to pay workers a minimum 22 Swiss francs (about $25; £15; 18 euros) an hour.

Supporters said the move was necessary for people to live a decent life.

But critics argued that it would raise production costs and increase unemployment.

The minimum wage proposal was rejected by 76% of voters. Supporters had argued it would "protect equitable pay" but the Swiss Business Federation said it would harm low-paid workers in particular.

The issue was the most prominent of several referendums held on Sunday.

But the fun part is:

A controversial plan to buy 22 Swedish-made Gripen fighter jets for the Swiss Air Force was narrowly rejected by 53% of voters.

Source

I am... surprised Swiss actually vote whether they want to buy new weapons nor not. In US or my country the government would never hold a general referendum to see people actually want to purchase scrap metals such as F-35 using the tax money. I don't know... I wonder can Swiss political model ever adopt by other countries?

[Condottiere 40K]

They need more jets, both to maintain a 24/7 policing of their airspace and keep up the tempo of air operations in a war for four weeks.

Can't be good news for SAAB.

[hellheaven1987]

Can't be good news for SAAB.

Swiss may want to get a few F-35, though.

[Love Mountain]

Doesnt SwitErland already have an unusuall high minimum wage?

[Condottiere 40K]

The Swiss may be rich, but they aren't stupid. That plane costs too much, and all they need is a point defense fighter.

[Love Mountain]

The Swiss may be rich, but they aren't stupid. That plane costs too much, and all they need is a point defense fighter.

Does Switzerland possess any land-based AA options?

[Farnan]

Swiss don't even need that. They can do their mission with P-51 Mustangs. They have a special standing in world relations which protects them, and they provide a vital service.

[War lord]

Swiss don't even need that. They can do their mission with P-51 Mustangs. They have a special standing in world relations which protects them, and they provide a vital service.

If WWII proved anything, its that neutrality without appropriate paranoia means you're going to get rolled over the minute its convenient.

[Farnan]

If WWII proved anything, its that neutrality without appropriate paranoia means you're going to get rolled over the minute its convenient.

And if WW1 taught you anything it's not to invade the international neutral states.

Switzerland is more valuable as a neutral state than a territory, thus it's basically immune from invasion. Also, it doesn't seek to take a bigger role on the world stage and can't deploy troops for combat ops.

[Condottiere 40K]

As Crimea proved, don't rely on the kindness of your neighbours.

[Mayer]

I am... surprised Swiss actually vote whether they want to buy new weapons nor not. In US or my country the government would never hold a general referendum to see people actually want to purchase scrap metals such as F-35 using the tax money. I don't know... I wonder can Swiss political model ever adopt by other countries?

DEMOCRACY

[Condottiere 40K]

Direct democracy.

[Kyriakos]

Switzerland is by now pretty much the only actual democracy*, so i am not surprised by their vote. Most countries never have referenda, not even for much 'larger' issues, cause the cleptocrats might not like the result.

*It has of course to be noted that the general wealth brought by lack of war and european balances, played a crucial role in establishing this, while Switzerland could have had collapsed in the past and be divided between France, Germany and Italy (and thankfully did not).

[Mangalore]

Switzerland is by now pretty much the only actual democracy*,..

That's only true if you randomly redefine the term democracy. The term does include representative systems of government which is why there is a distinction between direct and indirect ones. I find it silly how often people bring this up as if the concept of direct democracy had been the only kind of democracy around ever. No, most of the time representative systems proved more stable and scalable given contemporary communications. That obviously doesn't mean direct democracy isn't something to ponder, just that it never was or is everything that this term means.

[Mayer]

No, most of the time representative systems proved more stable and scalable given contemporary communications.

You know that fascist and leninist systems can be viewed as representative systems?
Lenin argued that the party was the vanguard of the proletarians, led by educated revolutonaries who represent a organic part of the working class while Mussolini called it a organic and authoritarian democracy which represents the will of the nation without atomization of society

If anything "representative democracy" is doublespeak to trick people into thinking that they had any influence on politics

[Farnan]

You know that fascist and leninist systems can be viewed as representative systems?
Lenin argued that the party was the vanguard of the proletarians, led by educated revolutonaries who represent a organic part of the working class while Mussolini called it a organic and authoritarian democracy which represents the will of the nation without atomization of society

If anything "representative democracy" is doublespeak to trick people into thinking that they had any influence on politics

Those words don't mean what you think they mean.

[Condottiere 40K]

They did try; I think the last one was Charles the Bold.

[Mayer]

Democracy means rule of the people, not separation of powers

[Kyriakos]

Democracy means rule of the people, not separation of powers

Indeed it does. And the Demos is not a few politicians who then go on to vote for you, and be oligarchs themselves. That is pretty much an oligarchy.

Even in a representative democracy, frequent referendums are needed, so that the actual public expresses the view of the people themselves.

[Farnan]

Indeed it does. And the Demos is not a few politicians who then go on to vote for you, and be oligarchs themselves. That is pretty much an oligarchy.

Even in a representative democracy, frequent referendums are needed, so that the actual public expresses the view of the people themselves.

Source?