General Discussion

DFW

(60,310 posts)

20. For sure, cantonal taxes vary widely, and the Swiss include them when considering their tax burden

Sun Jul 26, 2015, 01:01 AM

Jul 2015

Geneva and Zürich are very high for obvious reasons. Any Swiss will tell you his total rate, and rarely break it down. As my man there is in Geneva, his total rate is 25%. If he had not inherited the house his dad left him, he would have had to move, as he could never afford a house in town. As it is, he lives closer to Cointrin than the Quai Mont Blanc.

You bet the Swiss government did their level best to keep the franc low. As opposed to the USA, they do NOT want their currency being a world reserve currency. As a tiny nation with a fair amount of industry and a substantial number of their people dependent on tourism, a strong franc is disastrous to business there. A grande mocha at Starbucks is about $8. I don't do McDonald's, but I'm told that a simple meal that costs about $4.50 in the States costs $15 or more in Switzerland. A simple meal for two at a lower-end restaurant is seldom under $50. The high (dollar-) salary the average Swiss earns disappears right back again when they have to live on it. They only uncoupled their currency from the Euro because of the Euro mess, not because they wanted the franc to appreciate. That country booms when the franc is low. Its people suffer greatly when it is high.

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Let's look at a country with high gun ownership, privatized healthcare, and no minimum wage. [View all] Recursion Jul 2015 OP

Numbers 1 and 5 are the most critical differences. hifiguy Jul 2015 #1

K&R +1 newblewtoo Jul 2015 #2

When discussing Swiss gun ownership Swiss conscription must be taken into account. Electric Monk Jul 2015 #3

^^THIS^^ nt eppur_se_muova Jul 2015 #4

That's what I understood as part of the requirement of Swiss gun ownersip London Lover Man Jul 2015 #9

So does that mean it's the people, not the guns, that are the problem? (nt) Recursion Jul 2015 #17

See the subthread beginning with reply #21 Electric Monk Jul 2015 #28

What bizarre pruning of the facts Doctor_J Jul 2015 #5

You're almost right Recursion Jul 2015 #6

+1 an entire shit load. Enthusiast Jul 2015 #7

Post removed Post removed Jul 2015 #10

Name one thing false in that post (nt) Recursion Jul 2015 #16

Isn't Switzerland working on passing the Mincome? daredtowork Jul 2015 #8

It failed at a referendum Recursion Jul 2015 #15

Health insurance companies are non-profit in Switzerland BainsBane Jul 2015 #11

Sort of. The companies are for-profit, their plans are actuarially neutral Recursion Jul 2015 #13

In addition to other comments, I'd question points 2 and 3 DFW Jul 2015 #12

They didn't want to keep it low forever, sure Recursion Jul 2015 #14

For sure, cantonal taxes vary widely, and the Swiss include them when considering their tax burden DFW Jul 2015 #20

So good labor helps. joshcryer Jul 2015 #18

Labor unions do more than labor laws, this would lead me to believe Recursion Jul 2015 #19

About that "high gun ownership"... Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #21

No, automatic weapons are not banned Recursion Jul 2015 #22

Private ownership of full-auto weapons is banned in Switzerland. Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #23

Banned for non-servicemembers? Recursion Jul 2015 #24

Members of the militia do not own their issued weapons. Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #25

But they can buy ammunition privately Recursion Jul 2015 #26

No, they can't Spider Jerusalem Jul 2015 #27

Private health insurance regulated to the hilt by the government Crunchy Frog Jul 2015 #29

A key quote in the OP that highlights the tradeoff between social and economic progressivism AZ Progressive Jul 2015 #30

I've always felt education was the only real way forward. raouldukelives Jul 2015 #31