[MD] Switzerland: The Quality Country

[Platt Holden]

All:

A recent article describing the current situation in Switzerland and how it 
got that way suggests it qualifies as the model Quality Country that other 
countries would do well to emulate. In Switzerland the human-devouring 
Giant is held in check by decentralizing the Giant's sources of power. And 
Switzerland's strong work ethic, free market policies and respect for the 
individual ensure a high quality of life for its citizens. Add to these its 
"passion for quality" and you have a country the MOQ can look to not only 
with approval but for inspiration.  Some excerpts from the article at:

http://www.american.com/archive/2008/march-april-magazine-contents/cuckoo-
for-switzerland


"Today, Switzerland looms much larger in the world economy than its small 
size and  population of only 7.5 million people would lead one to guess. 
Its passion for quality has raised global standards worldwide in fields 
from pharmaceuticals to biotechnology to medical devices. It ranks among 
the top 20 global exporters. When only services are considered, Switzerland 
ranks among the top 12 exporters." 

"There is a respect for the individual at all levels of Swiss society," 
says Micheline Calmy-Rey, president of Switzerland-a position that rotates 
every year among seven members of the multiparty Federal Council. "We are 
not a glamorous country," she says, "but we put human beings at the center 
of our system." "We never had the street rise up and view the social order 
as illegitimate," says Stéphane Garelli of the University of Lausanne's 
business school. "There has never been a revolution here. Wealth here is 
expected to be discrete, but it is respected and protected." He notes that 
while 17 billionaires currently live in Switzerland, only five are Swiss." 

"Christoph Blocher, Switzerland's former justice minister and the president 
of the conservative Swiss People's Party, is aware of the need to cultivate 
a business climate friendly to free enterprise. The owner of a major 
chemical company before entering politics, his keynote speech before the 
annual St. Gallen Business Conference in 2006 was a stirring defense of 
classical liberalism. "Anyone who still speaks in socialist rhetoric has 
slept through history," he declared. "Economic liberalism has done more to 
fight poverty and create jobs than any other doctrine." 

"The lessons that the Swiss have held close to their heart are simple," 
says Perroud. "One, there is no such thing as a miracle or a free lunch-
everything has to be earned, so there is a strong work ethic. Two, we put 
as much responsibility as possible where people are in control. In small 
towns, even teachers used to be elected until recently. Everything is 
highly transparent, so it is difficult for anyone to accumulate too much 
power."

Regards,
Platt