Has your continent reached its peak or is there still potential for economic growth?
Democracy itself is not a sufficient requirement for growth and prosperity, what matters are policies, specifically the lack thereof.____One of the best predictors of prosperity of nations is simply freedom: individual freedom, economic freedom and political freedom.____The major reason why Switzerland is prosperous is because it is a very free country and has been for my centuries, not just because it has democracy.____The major reason why other democracies around Europe like the UK, Germany and France are becoming less prosperous is because they are becoming less and less free. Businesses and citizens face more and more regulation, taxes and other burdens which disincentivizes work, growth and output.____Prosperity fundamentally comes from the production and consumption of goods and services. The more goods and services that are produced, the lower prices will be, the more consumers are able to consume and benefit. The more businesses there are competing to produce and sell goods and services, the higher incomes to employees will be. The higher the incomes, the more consumers can consume, and so the more prosperous society becomes.
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@jasonrussell
I have lived more than 35 years in Switzerland, I arrived in Chur in the canton of Graubünden and later I lived in the cantons of Sankt Gallen, Rorschach and __Flawil, and in Thurgau in Arbon, I say this because I have the experience of having lived in a democracy (although for some Swiss it has defects) that has no point of comparison with what we have in Spain. You say that "The main reason why Switzerland is prosperous is because it is a very free country" but if it is so free it is because, in my point of view, it enjoys a good and efficient democracy, which has allowed it the rest of the advantages that you list and that we do not have in the country where I live. It makes me laugh when I meet Swiss people who come to Spain as tourists and extol how good life is and even praise the freedom of the excesses they can indulge in without being repressed by the authorities, I always tell them to come and live here for a few years and then tell me how wonderful this supposed freedom is. Serafín Iglesias.
He vivido más de 35 años en Suiza, llegue a Chur en el cantón de Graubünden y más tarde viví en los cantones de Sankt Gallen, Rorschach y __Flawil, y en Thurgau en Arbon, digo esto porque tengo la experiencia de haber vivido en una democracia (aunque para algunos suizos tiene defectos) que no tiene punto de comparación de lo que tenemos en España. Dice Vd. que “La principal razón por la que Suiza es próspera es porque es un país muy libre” pero si es así de libre es gracias a que, en mi punto de vista, goza de una buena y eficaz democracia, lo cual le ha permitido el resto de ventajas que Vd. enumera y que no tenemos en el país en que vivo. Me hace gracia, cuando me relaciono con algunos suizos que viene de turismo a España y ensalzan lo bien que se vive y hasta ensalzan la libertad de los desmanes que se pueden permitir sin que las autoridades los repriman, yo siempre les digo que se vengan a vivir unos años y que después me digan lo maravilloso de esta supuesta libertad. Serafín Iglesias.
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I have read and, sincerely and honestly since I live here in Argentina, the truth is that countries like mine as well as Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia and others and all that is Central America are in full economic development, geographically because the countries are growing more and more and they are betting on everything, tourism because many tourists who speak Spanish and English (both fluently) come here to the West to tour the countries and they find Argentina and they like it more and more, I have had the opportunity to travel from my province Santa Fe to Buenos Aires and I have seen tourists from countries like Germany, Turkey and there are even many Chinese here in Argentina and they speak Spanish fluently and I know that some tourists find it difficult and that in many European countries what they are looking for are Spanish-speaking teachers, right? And mainly, they are looking for them here in the West and I have seen in my country that there are many young people who travel to Europe also to visit other countries and get to know the languages and so speak more than 3 languages, and if in a country they want to know about Spanish, you know they can come and visit the West and also visit the 23 provinces of Argentina here we are very friendly, to make friends and to know other languages because we speak not only Spanish, but also English and Italian (the third language is spoken more in the main provinces like Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, Cordoba and other provinces) so you are welcome here in Argentina!
He leído y, sincera y honestamente ya que vivo aquí en Argentina, la verdad países como el mío así como Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brasil, Colombia y demás y todo lo que es Centroamérica estamos en pleno desarrollo económico, geográfico porque los países crecen cada vez más y le apuestan a todo, turístico porque muchos turistas que hablan español e inglés (ambos fluidamente) vienen acá a Occidente a recorrer los países) y se encuentran con Argentina y les gusta cada vez más, yo que he tenido oportunidades de viajar de mi provincia Santa Fé a Buenos Aires he visto turistas de países como Alemania, Turquía e incluso hay muchos chinos acá en Argentina y hablan fluidamente el español y sé qué a algunos turistas les cuesta y es que en eso en muchos países europeos lo que buscan son profesores y profesoras de habla español, ¿cierto? Y principalmente, los buscan aquí en Occidente y he visto en mi país que hay muchos jóvenes que viajan a Europa también para recorrer otros países y conocer los idiomas y así hablar más de 3 idiomas, y si en un país quieren saber sobre el español, ya saben pueden venir y visitar Occidente y también visitar las 23 provincias de Argentina aquí somos muy amables, de hacer amigos y de conocer otros idiomas ya que no sólo hablamos español, también el inglés y el italiano (el tercer idioma se habla más en las principales provincias como Santa Fé, Buenos Aires, Córdoba y otras provincias más) así que son bienvenidos aquí a Argentina!
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Having studied and analysed the current socio/economic situation in the West for a long time in order to be able to write with coherence and a certain intellectual propriety my books on politics and geopolitics (Right vs. Left; The Hypocrisy of Politics
Después de haber estudiado y analizado la situación socio/económica actual en Occidente durante mucho tiempo para poder escribir con coherencia y cierta propiedad intelectual mis libros de política y geopolítica (Derecha vs Izquierda; La Hipocresía de la Política
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Gruyère, a land of mountains, alpine pastures, gentle tourism and friendly people, is rapidly turning into a concrete desert, overcrowded with people and congested roads. The locals can no longer live here, as the price of houses and rented accommodation is unaffordable. Human scale is giving way to wealthy industry, and with it the exclusion of people from the primary and craft sectors.
En Gruyère, pays de montagnes, d'alpages, de tourisme doux, de convivialité, se transforme rapidement en désert bétonné, surpeuplé, de routes encombrées. Les autochtones, ne peuvent plus y vivre, tellement le prix des habitations et des locations , sont inabordables. Les dimensions humaines font place aux riches industries , emmenant avec eux l'exclusion des populations des secteurs primaires et artisanales.
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@jepyerly@websud.ch
Hello! I would love to know Gruyère, and the truth is that in most countries and even in the West, more attention is being paid to the economic barrier, and with regard to the artisanal, they should not stop doing things like that just for that, honestly my parents have tried Gruyère cheese and they loved it, besides: What problem is there in terms of industries if it is from the industries themselves that wealth comes out, the primary sectors and the artisanal?
Hola! Me encantaría conocer Gruyère, y la verdad te lo digo que en la mayoría de los países es así e inclusive en Occidente, se está poniendo mayor alerta en la barrera económica, y con respecto a lo artesanal, no deberían dejar de hacer cosas así solamente por eso, honestamente mis padres han probado el queso gruyère y les ha encantado, aparte: ¿Que problema hay en cuánto a las industrias si es que de las industrias mismas sale la riqueza, los sectores primarios y lo artesanal
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@jepyerly@websud.ch
I have lived more than 35 years in Switzerland, I arrived in Chur in the canton of Graubünden and later I lived in the cantons of Sankt Gallen, Rorschach and __Flawil, and in Thurgau in Arbon, I say this because I have the experience of having lived in a democracy (although for some Swiss it has defects) that has no point of comparison with what we have in Spain. You say that "The main reason why Switzerland is prosperous is because it is a very free country" but if it is so free it is because, in my point of view, it enjoys a good and efficient democracy, which has allowed it the rest of the advantages that you list and that we do not have in the country where I live. It makes me laugh when I meet Swiss people who come to Spain as tourists and extol how good life is and even praise the freedom of the excesses they can indulge in without being repressed by the authorities, I always tell them to come and live here for a few years and then tell me how wonderful this supposed freedom is. Serafín Iglesias.
He vivido más de 35 años en Suiza, llegue a Chur en el cantón de Graubünden y más tarde viví en los cantones de Sankt Gallen, Rorschach y __Flawil, y en Thurgau en Arbon, digo esto porque tengo la experiencia de haber vivido en una democracia (aunque para algunos suizos tiene defectos) que no tiene punto de comparación de lo que tenemos en España. Dice Vd. que “La principal razón por la que Suiza es próspera es porque es un país muy libre” pero si es así de libre es gracias a que, en mi punto de vista, goza de una buena y eficaz democracia, lo cual le ha permitido el resto de ventajas que Vd. enumera y que no tenemos en el país en que vivo. Me hace gracia, cuando me relaciono con algunos suizos que viene de turismo a España y ensalzan lo bien que se vive y hasta ensalzan la libertad de los desmanes que se pueden permitir sin que las autoridades los repriman, yo siempre les digo que se vengan a vivir unos años y que después me digan lo maravilloso de esta supuesta libertad. Serafín Iglesias.
SWI SWISSINFO.CH
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@Serafin
Thank you for your interesting comment. I guess it's human nature to believe that the "neighbour's lawn" is always greener than your own...
Danke für Ihren interessanten Kommentar. Es ist wohl in der menschlichen Natur zu glauben, dass der "Rasen des Nachbarn" immer grüner ist als der eigene...
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With the latest events, I don't think we can get out of the hole that Trump, Milei, Netanyahu...and other dictatorships are putting us in__The lack of right decisions in Europe will make us pay a high price and we will be remembered as countries that didn't know how to fight for democracy, terrible frankly.
Con los últimos acontecimientos, no creo que podamos salir del pozo en el que los Trump, Milei, Netanyahu..y otras dictadures nos estan metiendo__La falta de decisiones acertadas en Europa nos harán pagar un alto precio y se nos recordará como países que no supieron luchar por la democracia, terrible francamente
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@Anonymous
You are absolutely right! Here in Argentina the Milei's are playing an "armed plan as they did during these last 15 years" that here means only one word economically: CORRUPTION and we should end that just like with Trump and also with Putin (who according to the president of Ukraine, Putin wants to go back to the USSR has this crazy idea, but they put an ultimatum to him either end the war or keep the peace in all countries without violence and wars and end what would be the beginning of the end a "possible third world war". Is that what Russia, France, the United States and Gaza are waiting for, or do they want to end it but do not know how to end it and are making a problem of the economy? There is already a half problem there, the economy and the violence, but the second problem is not seen but felt and it is very painful.
Tienes toda la razón! Aquí en Argentina los Milei están jugando un "plan armado como hicieron durante estos últimos 15 años" eso acá significa una sola palabra económicamente: CORRUPCIÓN y deberíamos terminar con eso al igual que con Trump y también con Putin (que según el presidente de Ucrania, Putin quiere volver a la URSS tiene esa loca idea, pero le pusieron un ultimátum o se acaba la guerra o mantienen la paz en todos los países sin que haya violencia ni guerras y que se acabe lo que sería el principio del fin una "posible tercera guerra mundial". ¿Es eso lo que están esperando Rusia, Francia, Estados Unidos y Gaza o quieren terminar ese fin pero no saben cómo terminar y están haciendo un problema de la economía? Ahí hay ya un medio problema, la economía y la violencia pero el segundo problema no lo ven sino que lo sienten y es mucho muy doloroso, ¿Es así
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@Anonymous
That's an interesting view of Argentina's president. Outside Argentina, the impression is that Milei is succeeding in getting Argentina back on track, not only in economic terms, but also by giving the people back their freedom of expression after years of abuse by previous governments.
Interessante esse ponto de vista sobre o presidente da Argentina. Aqui fora da Argentina a impressão que se tem é de que Milei está conseguindo trazer a Argentina de volta aos trilhos não no aspecto econômico mas também devolvendo a liberdade de expressão ao povo depois de anos de desmandos de governos anteriores.
SWI SWISSINFO.CH
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@Parceiro
But not everyone outside Argentina sees it that way. In which country do they see it that way
Das wird aber nicht überall ausserhalb von Argentinien so gesehen. In welchem Land sehen sie das so
It might look like a peak!__yes, we probably are being pushed into a corner.__that means, we must change direction, focus.__for example: turn away from greed and selfishness and become real human beings,__acting with kindness, generosity and wisdom!__THERE IS ENOUGH FOR EVERYONE.....IF WE SHARE IT PROPERLY!!
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Unfortunately I don't see anything positive, the EU bends to the powerful and I am worried that Switzerland will bend to the EU because of Trump.__We should teach in schools what the world war was like and create an awareness of immigration. FVedi France, Italy and so on.__Antonella Poretti
Purtroppo non vedo nulla di positivo, l'unione europea si piega ai potenti ed ho preoccupazione che la Svizzera si pieghi ALLA UE per colpa di Trump.__Bisognerebbe insegnare nelle scuole cosa è stata la guerra mondiale e creare una presa di coscienza sul fatto dell'immigrazione.gli svizzeri son andati all'estero in passato e son stati accolti. FVedi Francia, Italia eccetera.__Son delusa dal presente.__Antonella Poretti
I was born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, and I also hold Swiss citizenship. Bolivia is approaching elections, and it seems we may experience a shift in political orientation after 20 years of left-wing and populist governments. During this time, the country missed many opportunities to become a more developed, decentralized, and economically free nation due to a statist model of governance. I hope we can pursue intelligent reforms, increase economic freedom, and transfer more autonomy to the regions in order to build a prosperous nation.
SWI SWISSINFO.CH
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@freiterra
Thank you for your contribution! Switzerland used to support decentralisation projects - do you see that something is actually moving in this direction
Vielen Dank für Ihren Beitrag! Die Schweiz hat früher Projekte für die Dezentralisierung unterstützt - sehen Sie, dass sich tatsächlich etwas in diese Richtung bewegt
I shuttle between Zurich and Cape Town and have citizenship of Switzerland and South Africa. Africa is improving and Switzerland is declining. South Africa is specially interesting because of the membership in BRICS. The question how I manage with dual citizenship I usually answer with a joke, saying the heart is South African and the wallet Swiss.
SWI SWISSINFO.CH
@Daniel Christen
Thanks for your reply - could you give us some examples
@Giannis Mavris
The most important example is the fact that South Africa has a Constititional Court and Switzerland has none. Infringing the rights given by the Constitution in South Africa will have consequences, I Switzerland, the Constitution is infringed regularly without intervention of the Judges. Examples are mass immigration, 2nd home in the mountains, using trains for goods in the alps, free choice of profession for non privileged...__Of course it will take time for South Africa to recover from colonialism and apartheid, but keep in mind that democracy is only about 30 years old. In Switzerland, democracy is over 700 years old, at least for men, but nobody cares if the rules written in the Constitution are applied or not. And of course this is not about being politically left or right, it is about self respect of a nation!
@Daniel Christen
😃😃
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I live in Spain, everything is changing, I think for the better, although there are adverse circumstances that we should change, __Every culture is different, and even more so between some continents, and even more so if we add the religious issue, __We should respect each other, but without anyone from outside interposing customs from outside to erase our own.
Vivo en España, todo cambia, pienso que para mejor, aunque hay circunstancias adversas que deberíamos cambiar.__Cada cultura es diferente, y mas entre algunos continentes y mas si añadimos el tema religioso.__Debemos respetarnos los unos a los otros, pero sin que nadie de fuera, interponga costumbre de fuera para borrar lo propio.
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I live in Gruyère. It used to be an agricultural region, with gentle tourism. Over the last two decades, major industrial projects have denatured the landscape, driven out agriculture, destroyed biodiversity and clogged up roads, schools and hospitals. Not to mention the insecurity and damage caused by uncontrolled immigration. Apart from a few rich people, everyone loses out.
J'habite en Gruyère. C'était une région agricole , avec du tourisme doux. Depuis deux décennie les grands projets industriels, ont dénaturé le paysage, fait fuir l'agriculture , fait disparaître la biodiversité, encombré routes, écoles, hôpitaux. Ne parlons pas de l'insécurité , des dégâts causés par un immigration incontrôlée. A part quelques riches, tout le monde y perd.
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ALL this that you are commenting is very interesting and important but I believe and consider that this is still things of the future and present depends on how you see it but I believe that everything will go from bad to worse as it is written in the Bible everyone should read more the word of God there is all the things that are happening in the world 🌎 right now and in the immediate future seek peace and above all keep yourselves in holiness without which no one can see God blessings we have a Lord Jesus Christ who is God and King Jesus Christ and in the immediate future I believe that all things that are happening in the whole world 🌎 right now and in the immediate future seek peace and above all keep yourselves in holiness without which no one can see God blessings we have a Lord Jesus Christ who is Priest and King of Kings and who loves everyone equally and is no respecter of persons.
TODO esto que ustedes están comentando es muy interesante y importante pero yo creo y considero que eso todavía son cosas del futuro y presente depende de como ustedes lo vean pero creo que todo irá de mal en peor como esta escrito en la Biblia cada uno debería leer más la palabra de Dios ahí está todas las cosas que están aconteciendo en el mundo 🌎 entero ahora mismo y en un futuro inmediato busquen la paz y sobretodo guardense en Santidad sin la cual nadie podrá ver a Dios bendiciones tenemos un Señor Jesucristo que es Sacerdote y Rey de Reyes y que ama a todos por igual sin hacer acepción de personas bueno les dejo todo eso como tarea
In North America, fires and drought etc. are the new norm.
SWI SWISSINFO.CH
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@snowyphile1
So you see climate change as the biggest threat to North America
Sehen Sie also den Klimawandel als grösste Gefahr für Nordamerika
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Hello, I live in the Canary Islands. There is an obvious drift towards possible extreme right wing governments which is very worrying and I think we need to deepen the democratic state. In Spain, democracy is too formal and we need more democracy in depth. It is not enough to reduce citizen participation to voting once every four years. We have come a long way in recent years in social education and citizen participation, but there is a reactionary sector with a lot of media power that has no real democratic conscience and acts in its favour without regard and with the favour of very powerful conservative sectors, in principle economic, but also judicial, as is being demonstrated day by day lately in the harassment of the current progressive government. The only way to solve these practices is to deepen democratic values, but it seems to be taking a long time. I hope we will be able to do so.
Hola. Vivo en las islas Canarias. Existe una evidente deriva hacia posibles gobiernos de extrema derecha muy preocupante y creo que debemos profundizar en el estado democrático. En España, la democracia es excesivamente formal y se necesita más democracia de fondo. No es suficiente reducir la participación ciudadana en ir a votar una vez cada cuatro años. Hemos avanzado mucho en los últimos años en educación social y participación ciudadana, pero existe un sector reaccionario con mucho poder mediático que no tiene una conciencia democrática real y actúa a su favor sin miramiento y con el favor de sectores conservadores muy poderosos, en principio económicos, pero también judiciales, como se está demostrando día a día últimamente en el acoso al actual gobierno progresista. La única manera de solucionar estas prácticas es profundizar en los valores democráticos, pero parece que está costando mucho. Espero que seamos capaces de ello.
I live in Egypt. In the past dozen years Egypt has managed to recover from its turbulent years and is now stable and secure. However, regional conflicts have hindered its full potential and blocked its political development. There have been enormous efforts in improving its fragile infrastructure and housing problems for the very young population. In the energy sector however is where Egypt has improved the most and is on the brink of reaching its renewable energy goals. Still a great deal needs to be done, especially in the social sectors, education and health.__International debts are costing Egypt greatly, while Covid and wars have weakened tourism and Suez Canal income, making the situation even harder. __Egypt's potential is huge, all it needs is peace and regional stability to flourish.
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