Yesterday I came across a documentary about Switzerland, a country I admire a lot, but I've never had the pleasure to visit it, for good reasons. I have a friend who lives there and I know a lot from him.
For those of you who are not familiar what Switzerland is famous for:
Switzerland is among the world's most developed countries, with the highest nominal wealth per adult and the eighth-highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. It performs highly on several international metrics, including economic competitiveness, democratic governance, and press freedom. Zurich, Geneva and Basel rank among the highest in quality of life, albeit with some of the highest costs of living. Switzerland holds an international reputation for its established banking sector and for its specialized industries in watchmaking and chocolate production. source
In other words, it is known as one of the best places to live in, in the world, it is one of the beautiful countries as well, if you're looking for mountains, snow and a lot of green, but it comes at a cost.
We knew they have strict rules, that's why it is so selective, but it turns out even the slightest transgression is regulated there. Is this such a bad thing? Let's see.
The documentary started with presenting what an early morning looks like in the city of Lausanne for two police officers. It was barely 6 am and they were already out on the streets, looking for transgressors.
In a few minutes, they caught a man who threw his household trash bag into a street bin, a student who spat on the street and another guy who dropped his cigarette butt on the ground. They all got fined right away and they needed to pay between CHF100 and CHF150. Urinating on the street can also bring you a CHF200 fine and so on.
Moat likely these offenses or at least a part of it is punishable or fineable in many countries, but not many care. Well, Switzerland does.
It's shocking how people think and I give you an example. The guy who spat on the street, frustrated for being fined, he took off his backpack and put it on the ground, while dealing with the police officers. Imagine dropping his backpack into his own spitting. Gross, isn't it? It is, yet, he still spat on the ground and was frustrated for being called out and fined.
There was a list with the fineable offenses, and while I was going through it was thinking if this means excessive control or not. It may seem like it at first glance, but people make it necessary.
As I said, Switzerland is a gem country because quality of life seems to be way better there, compared to other countries. People have clean streets, free and reliable healthcare, good services, safety is at the highest level if you know where to go and so on. These are necessary things for a normal and enjoyable life desired by everyone, yet law enforcement is needed to make it happen, which leads to people being frustrated for getting fined for not helping creating and maintaining it.
Contrary to other countries, in Switzerland, the most important decisions are passed by referendum.
Back to the topic of the post, what was shocking was most of them admitted doing it, they said they didn't know there's a fine to pay for these offenses. Damn! You don't drop your cigarette but on the ground at home, you don't spit on the floor because you want your home clean, right? Then why are you doing it on the street? Who's going to pick it up or clean it? Someone has to be paid to clean after you and the more money is spent on cleaning, the less is left of important things like health care and education for example.
One guy even said don't they have anything better to do, like focus on real crime? They do, they have to focus on real crimes too, but they are doing a damn good job as Switzerland's safety index is 73.5, while the highest ranking country (Andorra) scores 84.7.
A small, but extremely important detail you most likely don't know about Switzerland is this:
Firearms regulation in Switzerland allows the acquisition of semi-automatic, and – with a may-issue permit – fully automatic firearms, by Swiss citizens and foreigners with or without permanent residence. The laws pertaining to the acquisition of firearms in Switzerland are amongst the most liberal in the world, as well as being the most permissive in Europe. Swiss gun laws are primarily about the acquisition of arms, and not ownership. As such a license is not required to own a gun by itself, but a shall-issue permit is required to purchase most types of firearms. source
Yet, you don't see people slaughtering each other as it happens in the US and not only, no school shootings and so on.
So many are in pursuit of finding the best place to live and work. Most likely there's no place that checks all the boxes, but there are plenty that come close, no matter what you are looking for.
So many are complaining about corruption, incompetency, which is present in most countries, and accusing the government of everything literally possible, but how is working against what you would like to achieve help you or the society in any way?
Education starts at home, you are supposed to learn at the very young age, that making a mess is not allowed, littering costs money and don't do things to others you don't like yourself. It all comes down to education and mentality and if everyone would do their part, such strict rules would not be needed. Those times when nobles did their thing on the corridors of Versailles, because they were lazy to use the toilet, when all the dirt and household rubbish was thrown out the window to the streets of London are long gone and we should be heading towards a better and implicitly cleaner society in every aspect of the word, but are we on the right path?
What do you think? Are you spitting on the street? Are you throwing your cigarette on the ground? Have you ever been fined for such transgressions?
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There are definitely people who only behave in a civilized manner under duress and not out of conviction. It is unfortunate, but as it is always said, education comes from home, and nowadays there is less and less awareness about the care of the environment, about culture, and about simple manners. Now it is astonishing when someone says good morning or good afternoon, rudeness and immorality have become normalized. Imagine visiting a country as beautiful as Switzerland and you are spitting in the streets? Disgusting. There are minimum standards of hygiene and education that if you do not follow them by the good ones, then learn them the hard way. I 100% support this type of fines.
Switzerland is kind of an isolated country. They have strict visa requirements, don't have migration problems, like most of EU countries and this is why they are in a better place on so many levels. So many people are dreaming of living in a civilized country, yet when they have the chance, they act like criminals, cutting corners, breaking rules. This needs to stop and can't blame Switzerland for applying the law and being strict with everyone.
I would jail these people, honestly. Place them under arrest for a week or two, put them to sweep streets and mop the floor to see what it means, then they learn.
You raised a problem that hurts our country and neighboring countries, more or less.
Civilization and education are less and less present in our society, and I find it less and less pleasant to leave the house. I don't like people, mainly because of their behavior.
We have laws against most crimes, but the biggest problem is that they are not applied. What you told about the two policemen in Switzerland, you don't see in Romania. In our country, criminals have multiplied, and the policemen have disappeared.
The liberal vision of the world, with many rights for people, as I want, must be applied in an educated society. Romania has gained freedom, but most inhabitants are not ready for it. In this case, only drastic laws applied to every mistake or crime can ensure something similar to Switzerland after a few decades.
As for your question, the answer is no. I don't spit in the street, I don't litter, I even teach my 5-year-old granddaughter not to do that and much more. The child is very receptive, learns quickly, and draws the attention of others who do not apply these rules.
I didn't want to go into much details about our country and digress, but we both know Romania is in a very bad place in this regard and chances for things to change for better in a foreseeable future ate slim to none. As I said in my post, people are quick to complain and blame the government, municipality, you name it, while they break as many laws as possible. Citizen's responsibility for them is just a word in the dictionary and they have never heard of it.
The only way to educate them is by strict measures, but who's going to apply them as those responsible are also busy with looking to cut corners for personal gains.
We're living in a crazy country and will never get anywhere, unfortunately.
I really loved the video and made me think that if Switzerland did it, it means it's possible, but we're never going to as people only want easy and free money, nothing more.
I congratulate you for raising your granddaughter the right way. That is the age to teach they a lot of things they need in order to be a responsible human being. Unfortunately many kids spend their childhood in the streets, even if they have a home and so many are left to play video games or watch TV, because their parents are useless. You can guess what these kids are going to achieve in life.
Unfortunately, we are lost from this point of view of education and citizenship. I am horrified by what I see and hear daily when I meet groups of students going to and from school.
I lost faith that the future could still be good for us. I have also seen many educated, curious, and hard-working children and young people, but the ugly side of things covers them. I'm sorry.
Waooo!!! Nice photos @erikah of the orchids, you know in my garden a few days ago bloomed a very similar one, now I leave you a photo so you can see it.
How original your pictures are, my friend, I loved them.
You know the hive order of 0.25 was fulfilled 🤗. I hope it is already the final top or it will reach the other order of 0.23.
Best regards friend and happy day to you 😊🙏🏻☺️!!!
May I be controversial?
the cops go after the little guy who spits on the street, yet a blind eye is turned against the powerful corporate banking institutions who are a haven for the corrupt and the criminal, washing and laundering their ill gotten gains with impunity.