Reliko
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Posted - 2010.02.15 16:11:00 -
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Edited by: Reliko on 15/02/2010 16:16:12 I have been living in Switzerland for 3 years and am about to move to Australia.
Originally by: Alchemist Zemont
1. Obesity %, in UK its getting close to 30% which is a pretty insane % since the US is 63% 2. Politics, will my taxes help the useless be more useless (ie pregnant teenagers) 3. Activities, theres more to life than going to a pub drinking and talking about x factor, other than skiing and socialising like humans what else is there todo in Switzerland 4. Environment, London is piled with cars, you dont see anyone using bikes and everywhere you look there fat people smoking outside a takeaway
The first comment is that the cantons have a lot of invidual freedom to make laws and tax etc. I am in Basel Stadt so take anything i say with a grain of salt. When i went to GenFve the food seemed nicer.
1. Obesity is not as big a problem. The food is outrageously expensive. Forget that meat is part of your diet and you will do fine.
2. The cantons tax as they please. However the taxes are small in comparison to the mandatory insurance you need to pay at every turn. There is a mixture of socially progressive government programs like giving the junkies hero!n so they don't cause crime. Then there are moves to make a prison in South America to keep foreigners that commit crimes in.
3. If you come here from england your passtime will be going to the pub with other ex-pats and *****ing about the swiss, their stupid rules, and how expensive their awful beer is. Don't expect the swiss to make friends easily. They don't invite people into their lives readily. There is plenty to see and do, hiking , skiing etc. it just is expensive to do so.
4. this is the best thing Switzerland has to offer, the best and most efficient public transport in the world. Good bicycle lanes and traffic that respects bicycle riders. There are also good bicycle trails from one side of the country to the other.
Basically, it is a clean and quiet place where your tax money keeps the undesirables comfortable and comfortably out of the way. Some people like it, some don't.
If you are a whinging Pommie then you will hate it, if you are a wealthy elitist who is happy to keep to himself and can get by with the incomprehensible arbitrary rules that must be followed without question then you may like it.
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