Why Switzerland Has The Lowest Crime Rate In The World

[MyOwnDrum]

They have a very good point here.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nf1OgV449g"]YouTube- Why Switzerland Has The Lowest Crime Rate In The World[/ame]

 

[samsmart]

Yeah, I'm sure that Switzerland's crime rate is low only because the government provides for training in the use of military weapons and requires it's citizens to keep it at home and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with the facts that:

* Switzerland has legalized and regulates prostitution

* Switzerland has a drug policy of prevention, therapy, harm reduction, and prohibition, part of which includes supervised injection rooms for treatment of heroin addicts

* Switzerland has been historically neutral in military conflicts and spent only 3.6 billion USD in 2008 on it's military

* Switzerland has a population of 7,700,000 people; for a comparison, the United States has a population of 308,000,000

* Switzerland can directly make amendments to federal law through popular initiatives

So I'm SURE that the reason why Switzerland has such a low crime rate is because the government mandates that every man be trained and equipment with a military automatic assault rifle and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with that fact that Switzerland is socially liberal, strictly militarily neutral in foreign conflicts, is ranked 94th by population rather than being larger, and is able to practice direct democracy on a federal level. Nope, I'm sure those things have nothing to do with it whatsoever.

 

[DrunkenAsparagus]

Those things also help (except direct democracy. ?). Although, I wouldn't be too sure about doing a home invasion of a home where the owner almost certainly owns an assault rifle.

 

[Dittohead not!]

Yeah, I'm sure that Switzerland's crime rate is low only because the government provides for training in the use of military weapons and requires it's citizens to keep it at home and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO with the facts that:

* Switzerland has legalized and regulates prostitution

* Switzerland has a drug policy of prevention, therapy, harm reduction, and prohibition, part of which includes supervised injection rooms for treatment of heroin addicts

* Switzerland has been historically neutral in military conflicts and spent only 3.6 billion USD in 2008 on it's military

* Switzerland has a population of 7,700,000 people; for a comparison, the United States has a population of 308,000,000

* Switzerland can directly make amendments to federal law through popular initiatives

So I'm SURE that the reason why Switzerland has such a low crime rate is because the government mandates that every man be trained and equipment with a military automatic assault rifle and has ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with that fact that Switzerland is socially liberal, strictly militarily neutral in foreign conflicts, is ranked 94th by population rather than being larger, and is able to practice direct democracy on a federal level. Nope, I'm sure those things have nothing to do with it whatsoever.

Probably several of the above differences between Switzerland and the US have something to do with the disparity in crime rates.

How can we apply the Swiss experience to our own culture?

It is evident that gun ownership alone isn't going to do it, as we have one of the highest rates of gun ownership in the world, and one of the highest crime rates to go with it.

Maybe if everyone did a tour of duty, learned how to use a weapon, then kept that weapon, it would help, but only if we eliminated gang bangers and felons from service. If the rest of us had them outgunned, it might put a little bit of a damper on our incessant gang wars.

Putting and end to our illogical and counterproductive war on drugs would help, too no doubt. It is money from illegal drugs that keeps the gangs going for the most part.

Or, we could just become socialists, like the Swiss (had to get that last one in for the benefit of the "conservatives" on this forum.:mrgreen:

 

[Manc Skipper]

As does the home invader, and he has his in his hands with the safety off. He's wide awake, and aware of what is about to happen.

 

[samsmart]

Direct democracy helps in that it allows the citizenry a method of bypassing politicians in passing legislation. That is, the population can pass or repeal federal laws themselves. So if the legislature passes an unpopular law, the population can directly repeal it. The population can determine what is and isn't a crime, thus lowering crime rates by making fewer actions crimes without dealing with the BS of political leaders whose sole purpose in life is to tell other people what to do and use laws as a mandate.

 

[Dittohead not!]

Direct democracy helps in that it allows the citizenry a method of bypassing politicians in passing legislation. That is, the population can pass or repeal federal laws themselves. So if the legislature passes an unpopular law, the population can directly repeal it. The population can determine what is and isn't a crime, thus lowering crime rates by making fewer actions crimes without dealing with the BS of political leaders whose sole purpose in life is to tell other people what to do and use laws as a mandate.

We have a similar system in the State of California. It is quite a mixed bag, as it has been used to promote a variety of issues, some necessary, some not, some silly, and some prohibitively expensive. It seems like most of the ballot propositions lately have been bond issues, promoted by advertising how it "isn't going to raise taxes", to which I reply, "Really? Are the bond fairies going to pay it off for us?"

We did get smoking in public buildings banned, probably a lot sooner than the legislature would have been willing to go against their big tobacco donors and ban it. That was a good thing.

 

[Arcana XV]

High standard of living.

We're filthy rich. Rich people don't need to rob each other.

I keed, but only a little. :mrgreen: We do have a very low poverty rate as well.

 

[Djoop]

High standard of living.

We're filthy rich. Rich people don't need to rob each other.

I keed, but only a little. :mrgreen: We do have a very low poverty rate as well.

I remember the gun carrying cowboys from my visits to Avoriaz. It makes you feel so safe knowing that any idiot could purchase these heroic weapons.

 

[Arcana XV]

I remember the gun carrying cowboys from my visits to Avoriaz. It makes you feel so safe knowing that any idiot could purchase these heroic weapons.

Avoriaz is in France.

 

[DrunkenAsparagus]

Direct democracy helps in that it allows the citizenry a method of bypassing politicians in passing legislation. That is, the population can pass or repeal federal laws themselves. So if the legislature passes an unpopular law, the population can directly repeal it. The population can determine what is and isn't a crime, thus lowering crime rates by making fewer actions crimes without dealing with the BS of political leaders whose sole purpose in life is to tell other people what to do and use laws as a mandate.

I don't see how this affects violent crime. Also, the whims of the majority aren't mcuh less authoritarian than elected official

IE The recent banning of minerets

 

[Djoop]

Avoriaz is in France.

Ah welll, that explains everything. Must have mistaken it with Grindelwald.

 

[samsmart]

I don't see how this affects violent crime.

I can't imagine a scenario in which people repeal a violent crime law. After all, while the Swiss voted to keep safe injection rooms for heroin addicts, they also voted to keep marijuana illegal. So direct democracy helps more with regards to specific issues than broad issues.

Also, the whims of the majority aren't mcuh less authoritarian than elected official

IE The recent banning of minerets

And I know about the minaret ban. That issue isn't entirely final. The Swiss Federal Constitution provides for a freedom of religion and conscience, as does the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Switzerland is a signatory. However, the Federal Supreme Court does not have the power of judicial review, so it may be up to the European Court on Human Rights to determine the validity of that amendment.

As for the authoritarianism of the whims of the majority, that can be protected against by ensuring certain protections to all people, especially minorities, making them inalienable rights and thus unable to be taken away by a majority or anyone else.

 

[Goshin]

Switzerland is an exception to many rules... perhaps even most of them. Given their history, the protection their rugged mountain terrain gives them, their culture and neutrality, etc... comparing any other nation to Switzerland is probably going to turn out to be apples and oranges.

Just as I consider it silly to compare the UK and US in terms of violent crime and gun control, (usually in a negative sense), I don't think it really works to compare the US and Switzerland in similar fashion.

Switzerland is relatively prosperous, and they have a low poverty rate & low crime rate...but despite their cosmopolitan makeup they are far more culturally homogenous than the USA. But there is, if I understand rightly, a number of issues connected with that. One of the criticisms I have heard leveled at the Swiss is that they have a semi-permanent "underclass" of relatively poor immigrants, who are allowed to live and work at menial jobs in Switz but almost never to become citizens (a very VERY difficult process). I am told these underclass noncitizens are booted out of the country the instant they start causing any fuss, be it criminal activity or political agitation.

Caveat: I've never been to Switzerland. The above is based on things I've read and things travellers have told me. It would seem that there is always a Serpent in every Eden, if you look in the right spot.

 

[DrunkenAsparagus]

I can't imagine a scenario in which people repeal a violent crime law. After all, while the Swiss voted to keep safe injection rooms for heroin addicts, they also voted to keep marijuana illegal. So direct democracy helps more with regards to specific issues than broad issues.

This isn't just due to direct democracy. It would still be banned in the US where most people are against drug legalization. Populations are still often just as authoritarian as elected officials

And I know about the minaret ban. That issue isn't entirely final. The Swiss Federal Constitution provides for a freedom of religion and conscience, as does the European Convention on Human Rights, of which Switzerland is a signatory. However, the Federal Supreme Court does not have the power of judicial review, so it may be up to the European Court on Human Rights to determine the validity of that amendment.

The point is that the population is in favor of the authoritarian measure

As for the authoritarianism of the whims of the majority, that can be protected against by ensuring certain protections to all people, especially minorities, making them inalienable rights and thus unable to be taken away by a majority or anyone else.

Yes, and direct democracy is just as able to trample over this as politicians

 

[samsmart]

It would seem that there is always a Serpent in every Eden, if you look in the right spot.

Don't forget the rather dubious history of Switzerland's banking laws.

 

[spud_meister]

i'd say that the reason the swiss have a low crime rate would be the guns, but also the discipline instilled by the military training

 

[roderic]

As does the home invader, and he has his in his hands with the safety off. He's wide awake, and aware of what is about to happen.

Yes, and (I have not watched the clip, it does not work on my connection) the Swiss do not carry arms, they need to keep the gun and the ammo locked up in separate places - it's of no help in an emergency when a fast reaction is essential.
So I doubt very much that gun ownership is responsible for the low crime rate.

High standard of living.
...
We do have a very low poverty rate as well.

This sounds more plausible..

 

[Arcana XV]

Switzerland is relatively prosperous, and they have a low poverty rate & low crime rate...but despite their cosmopolitan makeup they are far more culturally homogenous than the USA. But there is, if I understand rightly, a number of issues connected with that. One of the criticisms I have heard leveled at the Swiss is that they have a semi-permanent "underclass" of relatively poor immigrants, who are allowed to live and work at menial jobs in Switz but almost never to become citizens (a very VERY difficult process). I am told these underclass noncitizens are booted out of the country the instant they start causing any fuss, be it criminal activity or political agitation.

Caveat: I've never been to Switzerland. The above is based on things I've read and things travellers have told me. It would seem that there is always a Serpent in every Eden, if you look in the right spot.

It's true. We have one of the highest percentage of foreign residents at about
20%, mainly due to the complexities, restrictions and very high cost of becoming a citizen. The fact that they are seen as an "underclass" is not specific to Switzerland. This is the case in all European countries. What is specific to Switzerland is the fact that these immigrants live better and have higher wages than in any other country. We also have the lowest unemployment rate in Europe, at least it was the lowest last I checked. It normally hovers between 3 and 5%. Ensuring very low poverty and unemployment rates is the best way to prevent crime.

 

[roderic]

Also, since the bar for immigration is very high, you get the more educated and well-off ones. It's a different demographic from Germany, France or the UK, if I am not mistaken.

 

[Arcana XV]

Also, since the bar for immigration is very high, you get the more educated and well-off ones. It's a different demographic from Germany, France or the UK, if I am not mistaken.

We get a little of both actually. We have a lot of imported white collar, highly educated professionals in certain fields. But we also have many more with average to low-education who mainly do hard manual labor. And then we have everything in between too.

 

[PeteEU]

Really depends on what crime we are talking about does it not, plus definitions. "Crime" varies from judicial system to judicial system and hence the statistics are often skewed one way or another, not to mention reporting of crimes.

Reporting is often very key to any statistics.

For example, rape. Rape in Asia and the middle east is low statistically, but do we really believe that? Hardly. There is just a taboo about it so that the victim's dont report it, and/or the police have a tendency to dismiss reports because it being a very male dominated society.

Another key is what is a crime in one country may not be a crime in another. For example, in some countries there is a term called "man-slaughter" and that is a statistic by it self. And what constitutes "man-slaughter" varies considerably. In other countries "man-slaughter" does not exist but it instead is called murder.

So often it is not so simple.

However in those crime comparison statistics that are available, there it also depends on what crime we are talking about. The Swiss might have overall a low crime rate but when it comes to murder they have one of Europes highest.

 

[Arcana XV]

The Swiss might have overall a low crime rate but when it comes to murder they have one of Europes highest.

Keep in mind that the Swiss statistics for murder include "attempted murder" cases. I don't know if other countries have separate statistics for each. For some reason we don't.

 

[PeteEU]

Keep in mind that the Swiss statistics for murder include "attempted murder" cases. I don't know if other countries have separate statistics for each. For some reason we don't.

Thanks for proving my point Yes attempted murder is not counted in many countries as "murder"

 

[Gardener]

It's true. We have one of the highest percentage of foreign residents at about
20%, mainly due to the complexities, restrictions and very high cost of becoming a citizen. The fact that they are seen as an "underclass" is not specific to Switzerland. This is the case in all European countries. What is specific to Switzerland is the fact that these immigrants live better and have higher wages than in any other country. We also have the lowest unemployment rate in Europe, at least it was the lowest last I checked. It normally hovers between 3 and 5%. Ensuring very low poverty and unemployment rates is the best way to prevent crime.

Beyond the low unemployment, you folks have a much more egalitarian economic structure than we do. We have a similar pie, but the way we slice it up is diferent than Switzerland, with higher levels of extreme wealth here, but also higher levels of poverty and folks in the lower middle class. You have higher levels of what we would call middle and upper middle class, so you have more economic homogeneity throughout.


WE used to perceive ourself to be a middle class country, and had achieved such, but Reagan's economic schemes put an end to that.