What Switzerland can teach the US about democracy

If you’ve lived in Switzerland, it can be irresistible to compare the Swiss model of direct democracy with that of the US, particularly after a campaign as controversial the 2016 presidential race.

On one level, Swiss citizens spend more time researching and weighing on the issues before making their vote, according to Philippe Rey of San Jose, California. “Here in the US it all comes down to a popularity contest while values and core issues no longer matter.” Dave Long in Arziona agrees. “It seems that our elected officials are constantly in campaign and fund-raising mode while important problems are not only not being resolved but not even addressed! The US could learn a lot about campaign lengths from the Swiss.”

Switzerland also offers lessons in how to empower its citizens, says Mitzie Moser in Atlanta, Georgia. “Compared to Switzerland, I wish America had a democracy that gave citizens more of a voice and say in how the government is run, and allows citizens to have final decisions in what affects them.” 

Ed Brand in New Glarus, Wisconsin would rather have a choice of several major political parties, as in Switzerland, than two. “I also like Switzerland’s use of referendums because they make it easier to vote contrary to your own party’s position if you disagree with your own party on any given issue.”

But for Kirstin Kuenzi in Chicago it’s hard to compare the two countries. “When I was back in Zurich this summer, I kept thinking how much easier things seemed in Switzerland and how much more the Swiss residents are offered (such as better health care, college tuition, etc). But I had to remind myself that the US is 40 times the size of Switzerland- 318 million vs 8 million people! Many of these social benefits just aren’t sustainable for Americans with a population this large. It’s all relative!”