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The Swiss Way

I have written in the past of the Swiss Confederation and its weak central government form (the presidency is a ceremonial office and rotates). The office has no powers above the other six members of the Swiss Federal Council. The entire Federal Council is considered a collective head of state. Switzerland is a neutral country with a low crime rate and a powerful national defense system. Instead of fielding a large standing army, Switzerland requires every man to undergo military training for a few days or weeks a year throughout most of his life. Each man is required to keep his assigned automatic rifle at home at the ready. The Swiss are powerful believers in individual liberty and freedom. They believe that there is no need for a higher legal authority to check people’s initiatives. In fact, federal court in Switzerland is not allowed to rule on any constitutional matter at the national level. The Swiss are all about keeping things at the cantonal level. Keep it local is the key in Switzerland.

There is a lot to learn for Americans from “the Swiss way.” Switzerland’s model is precisely the weak form of central government intended by our Founders. The best outline of what a constitutionally strong form of federal republic looks like is Ron Paul’s Liberty Defined. The chapter on “Empire” alone will amaze you. -- Dick Young

The Swiss Way

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UPDATE 5.23.25: With a tentative deal with the Chinese done, and a UK deal behind the administration, the European Union has resisted American attempts to get a deal done, and President Trump has announced forthcoming 50% tariffs on the EU, writing “The European Union, which was formed for the primary purpose of taking advantage of […]

THE SWISS WAY: Most Heavily Armed and Most Free

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At LewRockwell.com, Eric Margolis explains that, “The tough Swiss will be ready for whatever happens.” Margolis does not believe a Russian invasion of Europe is imminent, or even possible as its military is quite diminished from the days of the Soviet Union. But Margolis also notes that if anyone did invade Switzerland, that would be […]

Donald Trump, the Disrupter in Chief

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Fortress America The just-elected Donald Trump is to be sworn in this Monday morning. Whether you look at this as a blessing or a curse, it is hard not to admit that Mr. Trump won a clear victory in November. Yet another way to view it, offers to Kyle Peterson in the WSJ, even though […]

A Wake-up Call or Unlucky Timing

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Democrat Disconnect: Trump-Proof California The Democrat-run California legislature is involved in a “special session” to focus on “special issues.” Well, those special issues were soon extinguished by news coming out of LA. In a move that Politico tells readers is “the first of its kind in the nation,” California legislature under Governor Newsome is looking […]

America’s President Should Not Be Powerful

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UPDATE 8.14.24: In an abuse of executive power, Joe Biden signed an executive order titled the Partisan Voter Registration Order, that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves, Attorney General Lynn Fitch, and Secretary of State Michael Watson are calling illegal. Alexandria Galtney of WAPT reports: The State of Mississippi is suing President Joe Biden’s Administration over the […]

Keeping it Local is the Key in Switzerland

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Originally posted April 22, 2024. I have written in the past of the Swiss Confederation and its weak central government form (the presidency is a ceremonial office and rotates). The office has no powers above the other six members of the Swiss Federal Council. The entire Federal Council is considered a collective head of state. […]

Gstaad and the Swiss Way

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UPDATE 12.7.23: It looks like Switzerland is about to make the smart decision to abandon the OECD’s plan for a “minimum corporate tax.” Indrabati Lahiri reports in Euronews: Back in June this year, Switzerland set an example for other wealthy European countries, by vocally supporting a minimum corporate tax rate, suggested by the Organisation of […]

More Guns, Less Crime

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UPDATE 6.3.22: I wrote the piece below back in February 2011 when the Obama administration was in full fervor over gun control. The truth of More Guns, Less Crime has not changed since then, yet the Biden administration— seemingly a third term for Barack Obama—is calling for a massive round of new gun controls, including […]