> The USA is no model for democracy - Switzerland IS.
There's plenty to admire about Switzerland and Central Europe in general -- welfare states, brilliant industrial policies, intelligent city planning. But it comes with a price tag: virulent xenophobia, immigrant-bashing, etc.
Also, Switzerland didn't give women suffrage in certain national elections until 1971 (they could vote in many local elections, of course). No, that's not a typo -- 1971, not 1871.
Wasn't it Kustaa Vilkuna who said, "there are no national cultures, only national barbarisms"?
-- DRR