What are people discussing in or about Switzerland? What topic are you particularly interested in?
On our website you can find the latest news, in-depth articles and discussions from and about Switzerland.
Have a look and let us know what topic you’re most interested in! We’d love to get to know you better, to take your input on board for future reporting and in-depth debates and we want to see what is of interest to you.
There is concern that Swiss banks are being used for tax evasion and other crimes.
While it is natural to protect depositors, it is a nuisance for banks to have their money misused.
People must be freed from the control of money or there will be no cultural development.
We can eliminate the domination of money by making money that is not used, erased, and only appears when it is used.
スイスの銀行が、脱税などの犯罪に利用されていると懸念されています。
預金者を守ることは当然ですが、それを悪用されるのは銀行にとって迷惑だと思います。
人は、お金の支配から解放されなければ、文化の発展はありません。
使われないお金は、消去され、使う時だけ現れるお金にすることで、お金の支配をなくすことができます。
Shuksan Conservancy also known as American Alps.org is concerned about finishing the work needed to restore the North Cascades biota, which is quite similar to the Swiss National Park. As a retired national park ranger living with my Swiss wife at the eastern gateway to North Cascades National Park, much like Val Mustair, I'm interested in the opinions of others who may have read Patrick Kupper's book: CREATING WILDERNESS- A Transnational History of the Swiss National Park, or any of the many books about the North Cascades, or have experience with both parks. What can America learn from this Swiss experience, or Switzerland from America, in regard to conservation biology?
-Eric Burr and Margrit Broennimann, Mazama WA USA burrski@methownet.com
interested in animals rights & help for suffering animals , abolish all slaughter ; abolish horse meat & equine slaughter & trade . stop all animal killing & cruelty . horse & equine welfare.
nature & environment . snow .
A state of concern due to the possibility of a more serious epidemic in the future and damage to trade and the labor market in Swiss society, but at the same time a collective reassurance that the government is able to fight this epidemic from all sides and we are in good hands and there is no fear for the Swiss people.
حاله من القلق بسبب احتمال انتشار وباء أخطر في المستقبل وإضرار بالتجارة و سوق العمل في المجتمع السويسري، ولكن بنفس الوقت اطمئنان جماعي بأن الحكومة قادرة علي مكافحة هذا الوباء من كل الجوانب ونحن بأيدٍ أمينة ولا خوف علي الشعب السويسري.
I would like to know more about assisted suicide.
Is there any pain?
Gostaria de saber mais sobre suicidio assistido.
Ha alguma dor?
I think you perfectly know what people discuss in Switzerland, because your website turned off comments abut 2 years ago, apparently because people discussed inconvenient topics and in inconvenient ways.
Compared to the Switzerland I experienced when I came to live here more than 2 decades ago, today Switzerland is far less assured of itself, more worried about what others think, far more willing to go along with the herd and fashions of America, Britain, Marxist Cultural Wokeness and other damaging trends.
Switzerland became successful precisely because it was DIFFERENT, and better. There is nothing to apologise for. Every country had a shocking period somewhere in their history, Switzerland too.
Let's debate why Switzerland is changing in this way. Soon it will become homogenised and mediocre like other countries. Is this happening for political reasons? Cultural reasons? High level of immigration from surrounding EU countries is changing the dynamics? Some other reasons?
@Rafiq, this may help to explain it: [url]https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/switzerland-explained_why-is-switzerland-so-expensive-/45950688[/url]
Let's discuss the Swiss government's continued subsidizing of the pharmaceutical industry. We continue to pay exorbitant prices for prescription drugs including generics. We are not allowed to buy drugs in Europe at much lower prices and get reimbursed on our insurance. Even the packaging is more costly. Recently I had to buy 12 extra pills of penicillin even though I needed only one to finish my treatment. Think of it, how many times have you bought pills where the doctor prescribed 10 or 12 and you had to buy 20. Is the government serious about reducing our medical insurance costs?
Why is there no debate / referendum for a National Health Service? That would work here. How much of our insurance goes on the company overheads, boss bonuses, shareholder payouts? I get a lot of my medicine when I visit the UK - e.g. Panadol here costs 3x what I pay in the UK. I once got something on prescription here. I saw the price and tried to pay in cash. The assistant said no, my insurance will pay. Actually no, it came out of what I pay extra per year. And the bill was 4x the cash price. Definitely criminal. But, when I order items from abroad, they get stopped at the border. Also, criminal.
Indeed with our insurance, PCR tests and vaccination should be covered, no questions asked, 400CHF a month is a lot and I am always laughing when people say vaccines are free thanks to government, why wouldn't they be free with our insurances and why government are paying for it if insurances should. All system with this health insurance and ever rising prices for them for no valid reason is passing me off and all of my friends and colleagues.
Yes it's a rip off. I cross the border to France and aspirin and other painkillers are a quarter of the price.
Same with vitamins, they are extortionate here in CH. I do realise that they quality of vitamins is assured, and there are quality problems in other countries, so I am prepared to pay more, but not SO much for basic things like Vitamin C, D, etc
What I find bizarre is that once I bought subscription medicine in France and my Swiss insurer would not reimburse me, yet they would save more than 50% compared to if I had I bought it in CH.
That's clear evidence of a monopoly / cartel arrangement between the insurers and the pharmaceutical companies which should be investigated by the government as anti-competitive.
High cost of living. Why are practically all goods so much more expensive in Switzerland than in the surrounding countries?
When I first came here, I spent the first few months wandering around, muttering "How much? But back then the costs were much lower than my salary. I could eat in a restaurant every night. Since Schengen (and cheap labour from abroad), my salary has stagnated and costs are just less than what I earn. After Brexit, the UK salaries are finally rising. Less cheap labour available. But when I visit the UK, I mutter "How cheap?" as costs there are 25% of here (it was 50% pre-Brexit) - thanks Boris.
Because salaries are also very very high. Costs of living must always be put in context with Income. Comparing Switzerland with other countries, despite the “high” cost of living people still have money left for leisure while in some other EU countries for example, a medium salary is barely enough to cover the rent for a small appartment. Let alone all the rest of expenses.
One of the things really 'ticking me off' is all the lying that goes on among supposedly 'civilized and educated' nations. All the deceptions, all the back stabbings, the lack of integrity, the lack of consideration for others, all the belittling just for daring to have a different opinion, smearing others with distorted facts and thus ruining lives/careers. It is becoming a 'free for all'...
Hi, thank you for your response. Do you mean also online between people? Where do you see a connection to Switzerland?
It isn't just connection to Switzerland, it is 'connection' to the entire so-called civilized world. Wasn't there just a report about Swiss politicians being attacked via 'social' media? As I stated...a free for all and getting uglier.
I don't quite get your comment, is it bad that people expressed their opinion about some politicians ?
No problem with expressing opinions on any subject...but BIG problem how it is expressed...anonymously, insulting, foul language...You get the picture?
Yes, I think this is the article you're referring to? [url]https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/threats-against-politicians-explode-on-facebook/47016628[/url]
I think it would be very interesting to take a closer look at this topic. Thank you.
As I see it...the 'social' media getting uglier and anti social with each passing day - and not just in Switzerland. I never have/never will subscribe to any of these 'social' media channels. Call me 'old fashioned' it you will...
@VeraGottlieb you could be proud to have a live with no "socil media".
In some organisations like Spitex you get some informations like work planing only asocial medias like whatsup. If you don't participe to the asocial medias then you have a hard time to work. Maybe once in the future you don't get a job at all.
It is like the RAV today; if you are not online and unemployed you don't get any money! On a way a discriminations of people with a different way of life.
I am an 81-year old retired 'youngster' 😜 and live very happy without 'social' media of any kind.
a) e-cars and what the Government is doing to help people to buy new cars (or what they should be doing - as I think it's nothing). A new e-car / hybrid costs double that of a similar sized fuel car. Precisely zero incentive to switch (except cheaper insurance).
b) Cyclists - they have their new lanes, and new red/green lights, but now they need new rules, especially now winter is coming - lights at all times (like cars), helmets, neon jackets, not cycling next to each other in heavy traffic or if the cycle lane is not wide enough, not expecting drivers turning right to see them, etc, etc
c) Cheap flats for single people, in nice areas, not ghettos. There are more singles than couples but many are forced to live together in WG as the rents are too high. Plus there are not enough 1-2 room flats.
Great input, thank you! One question, are you thinking about a specific Swiss city here (especially with the cyclists and flats), or overall Swiss cities?
It's probably every city. When I drove to work this morning, I was stuck in a traffic jam, cars pumping out pollution, not switching off as it was a bit chilly today. A few years ago this would not have happened, as there were 2 lanes. Now, one is for cyclists only (with very few cyclists using it - I think I saw 2 today). How is this good for the environment? I would sell my car and move to the city if rents were lower. But it's cheaper to live outside the city and drive. That's not right.
I see your point. And I find the connection between the topics cycling / flats / e-cars very interesting. Thank you!
Synergy. I don't think the Government has figured this out. Everything is connected. The Gov Departments don't seem to speak to each other. I found this out when filling in all the paperwork for my citizenship. Loads of travelling to prove I had lived where I had lived, paid my taxes, was not a criminal, was not in debt, etc, etc, when all it needed was a computer system connecting everything about me. The Gov wants fewer cars, more cyclists. Ok, let's have lower rents. One way - convert empty offices into cheap housing for single people. Does the Housing Dept speak to Transport / Business / Planning / Environment Depts? I doubt it.
In Geneva I wanted to rent an apartment next to uni, it was 1 tiny bedroom and tiny living room with open micro kitchen ( I mean so small no dishwasher can be placed and no full sized fridge), totalling 2600 chf, now I live outside and for the same price I rent 4 room apartment. Prices of rents push people to the countryside which makes them buy a car as it is more convenient with all that rail works right now for a year I don't have regular trains from my platform I would have to make connection in other towns, it sucks, the Swiss way of reparation is so slow, every day I come buy the trains station I see 0 workers, yet no train for me, I hear them work at night sometime, I don't get it when they work, if they worked in 2 groups, one at day and 1 at night all that mass would have be done in a month or 2, making it more convenient for the switch to trains.
Addition. I also am not buying any e car because it is way too expensive and my friend with tesla is struggling as he has an apartment in small town where there is no charging station and it is a nightmare to negotiate putting single tesla charger for his car even though tesla does not mind but all the neighbours and townhall do mind a lot.
Yes, I had a look into e-cars before as well (though I'm lucky enough to live in the centre of a town, so public transport is quite good). I've heard before from different sides that installing charging stations doesn't seem to be as easy as it sounds. Is your friend trying to get a private one installed in a garage, or a public one?
I have the same experience with road repairs. Especially major roads and motorways. You'd think projects to ease traffic congestion would be a 24/7 job, 3 shifts of 8 hours, to get the work done. But, no. Langsam gehen.
So o fato de o governo estar mil anos luz na frente aceitando que as pessoas decidam quando descansar de suas doenças e suicidar se ja sobrepõe todo o resto.
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