I do not know where you live, but there is no such thing as a statutory minimum vacation time under US federal labor law. In fact, there is no requirement what-so-ever for an employer to provide any paid vacation. Most employers do offer paid vacation to full time employees, but that is to be competitive in the labor market, not because of any legal requirement to do so. Two weeks is pretty much the standard for entry level, full time employees with most employers upping the amount to three weeks after a certain number of years of service. I think that requiring a a company to give six weeks vacation a year is absurd. When you add to that other days off for holidays, ten days at most companies in the US, the amount of time off would be unreasonable. That would mean a total of the equivalent of 8 weeks off a year. Of course the difference is that in many European companies you do not get to decide when to take your vacation, the company closes for certain weeks and that is when you get your time off. This arrangement is a little rare in the US, although some manufacturers do close for certain weeks, like the week between Christmas and New Years, and you either take vacation time or you are forced to take the time without pay if you do not have enough vacation time.

Actually the problem isn't how many weeks of vacation we get but that we don't have enough sex boxes.

LOL! If you're a contractor, no matter how many hours/week you work, good luck getting any benefits at all. More and more companies hire contractors for that very reason. My next-door neighbor is now a contractor for the same company that laid him off two years ago. Same job, different rules, and all in favor of the company.

LOL, the Swiss just need to look to America where even 2 weeks vacation a year isnt enough to keep jobs in America. In the end, it's about who corporations can extort and slave out. Right now Chinese and Indians are willing to slave themselves out. Gotta wonder what those countries will do when their workers are tired of being exploited, and a billion plus people revolt. As long as some corporation and its stockholders make a few extra pennies on their stocks.

All you complainers about vacation, I'm sure you have extremely desireable job skills. If that is true you can always take those skills and I'm sure a country that has better working conditions would be happy to add you to its work force.

At least the Swiss realize that there is a close relationship between keeping businesses competitive and the country's economic health.

In the USA, it's all about demonizing businesses to make them seem like they are anti-worker and greedy - thanks to Obama.

Has it occurred to people that Obama's moratoriums on drilling and new onerous regulations have had an impact on the price of gasoline?

Has it occurred to people that all of the new anti-business regulations (81,000 pages in 2009 alone) and increases in costs to hire workers (Obamacare, etc.) may have resulted in less people being hired and slow economic growth?

At least the Swiss recognize that we have to consider business interests to have a healthy economy - after all, it's businesses that provide 85% of the jobs in this country.

Obama would have us believe that the biggest enemy we have is 'greedy rich people', most of whom are business owners.

Congratulations on that 'Change we can believe in' that you voted for.

Hey Roy,

The price of gasoline is high because the oil companies are increasing the price because of greed. They are making record profits not keeping up with costs. If gas prices were increasing because cost was increasing then you would think that profits would stay even or maybe that oil companies would share some of that increase cost. That's not happening.

Also, under Obama we are producing more oil in this country domestically then we have since it's highest level in 2003. In 2008 we imported 57% of our oil which the Obama administration has lowered our imports to only 45%. So we aren't even as dependent on foreign oil like we were.

Is it 'greedy rich people' that are increasing our cost at the pump? Well it sure looks like it.

As with most things, balance is the key. Left to their own devices, some businesses would run slave labor camps - so government intervention is needed to keep this from happening. However, if government goes too far, businesses will leave the country (even more than has already happened). In general, when we increase the cost of doing business, businesses react by offsetting the costs somewhere else or increasing what they charge for their product - both of these actions usually negatively affect poor and middle class people the most.

Oh don't listen to Roy. He never listens to reason. Just his usual anti-obama rant. on and on and on...

Oh come on is exactly right about the cost of gas. Not based on usual supply and demand.. only based on speculation and guess who is laughing all the way to the bank. The Koch Bros.

I'm sure Roy would be happy to go back to no regulation at all for those sweet little innocent big biz folks. We all know they police themselves and are honest and always working for the stock holder... Yeah right. Good try though Roy.

COME ON REALLY-------

That is absolute nonsense.

Obama went 17 months without issuing a single drilling permit.

All of them he called new in that 17 months were shutdown for maintenance and on restart the inept liar in the white house called them new.

Gas production has increased because of efficiencies in older wells not because of anything obama has done.

He has restricted drilling in all but 2% of government land.

Even a lefty should be able to understand that when supply goes up, price goes down.

Bob, just wait, he is going to open them up, and prices will drop like a stone. Just wait until around Aug or Sept, then the short-memory sheep in this country will be all primed up for Nov, and their savior!

Even a lefty should be able to understand that when supply goes up, price goes down.

Then explain the record profits that ExxonMobil recorded when Katrina hit. ExxonMobil had a decrease in productivity and drilling yet somehow managed to beat the previous years profit. Wonder how since it WAS less oil being drilled and produced.

Come on, really,

Actually it takes 2 to 3 years minimum from the time a drilling permit it issued till you can actually have a new oil well producing oil that is going into the current system. With a 17 month moratorium on new drilling, any increases in oil production seen to date during the Obama administration were permits issued under GWB. Then again GWB is Obama's greatest scape goat as even today his worshippers blame GWB for everything bad.

Also it should be noted that a drop in the amount of oil imported does not always mean an increase in domestic production. It could simply be people don't have the money to spend on oil and thus are not driving as much or buying products made with oil thus decreasing the domestic need for oil without ever increasing production by an ounce. Those indicators though would say we are still deep in a recession which would not look good for a President in an election year.

Kinda makes you wonder what line the media is really trying to sell you.

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-pn-report-us-oil-imports-down-domestic-production-highest-since-2003-20120311,0,1926377.story

http://thinkprogress.org/green/2012/03/01/434993/gas-price-facts-domestic-oil-production-is-at-eight-year-high/?mobile=nc

The stats are here. Look at them. If you don't like these links try your own, just google "domestic oil production" Information is at your fingertips. I'm not advocating that Obama is chanting drill baby drill no matter the enviromental impact that the right is. I'm just saying we are producing enough oil, we could even be 100% self sufficient if our companies didn't ship any of our domestic oil out of the USA. We didn't need that dangerous pipeline running from Canada through 10 states into Texas.

Damn it Roy. I forgot this was an article about the Swiss and their vacation package.

Well he can't pin the Swiss vacation topic on Obama so he went another route.

Also Roy, the price inflation that happened after Katrina hit was not caused by a decrease in production but by speculation of a short production summer due to the down times the wells suffered during that storm. The speculation is what ramped up the price (falsely I might add) because they were "betting"(keyword) that the damage from Katrina would slow refining capabilities and offshore production. Your right though somewhat. When supply goes up, generally prices come down...when it's not based on a speculative market.

Woody316

Even a lefty should be able to understand that when supply goes up, price goes down.

Then explain the record profits that ExxonMobil recorded when Katrina hit. ExxonMobil had a decrease in productivity and drilling yet somehow managed to beat the previous years profit. Wonder how since it WAS less oil being drilled and produced.

Maybe just maybe you should take a look at what exxon declaired ( it is public record. ) The vast majority of their profits did not come from refining and selling gas.

Its not hard to answer your question do your own research, do not listen to what is being spoon fed to you by ANY media source, and goto the data yourself.

All this whinging about oil, on a completely unrelated story. You guys sure are tense, I prescribe time in a sex-box. (And counseling for one of you with your obsession with Obama)

Also Roy, the price inflation that happened after Katrina hit was not caused by a decrease in production but by speculation of a short production summer due to the down times the wells suffered during that storm. The speculation is what ramped up the price (falsely I might add) because they were "betting"(keyword) that the damage from Katrina would slow refining capabilities and offshore production

Hate to tell you but you're dead wrong. For Katrina all rigs were evacuated and shut down. You don't just shut down a rig and return the next day and crank it all back up again. It's an arduous and long process.

Also, the Exxon refinery in Baton Rouge did shut down for a short period. In fact because of doing so and the impact on the required formulated gas not being available in this immediate area caused the FEds to authorize this area to use "winter gas" from storage.

And shortly thereafter Rita (the forgotten storm) caused similar interruptions to the refineries in Lafayette and Beaumont, TX.

But how this topic of conversation has digressed thanks to Roy and Come on Really to discussing oil is beyond me. The story is about Swiss workers understanding the need to work and not goof off. In fact the only relation between oil and the Swiss is the fact that us oil field workers ARE busy. We're just not working here in the USA. And I hate to tell people, it makes no difference to us. Whether my work stint is spent 3 on/ 3 off in the USA or 4 on / 4 off overseas makes no difference at all to me. The accommodation on a rig here is pretty much identical to one overseas. I get paid the minute my travel to my worksite begins, so again, who cares where I am drilling. And production isn't the issue. In fact if prices declines you'd see a REDUCTION in drilling as that magical profitability point would come into play again. And the result of that? Yup, a price increase because of limited production.

Truth be told, I would rather we deplete oil reserves elsewhere first anyways. And it has the added bonus that our waters may stay a little cleaner.

come on, really? "Hey Roy, Also, under Obama we are producing more oil in this country domestically then we have since it's highest level in 2003."

It's nice of you to give credit to Obama for the big increase in wells approved and drilled under Bush. Remember, there is a lag of several years between actually drilling a well and getting the supplies to the market.

Wells drilled under Bush increased by over 100% vs Clinton's last year, but HAVE DECLINED BY OVER 70% IN OBAMA'S FIRST @ YEARS. We can expect a big shortage over the next few years as a result.

Oh gee Roy.. as usual you leave out one little bit of information.... like the BIGGEST oil spill in history in the Gulf.... causing everyone to take a step back and look at Deep sea drilling... again.. just a little fact to leave out.

Well it seems you are all you are ever going to be and you got left behind by your peers. I get two weeks for the first 5 years then it's an additional day each year after until a maximum of four weeks. The Eurolazy model promotes slackards who barely do the minimums, can't get fired and make the same pay as the person who carries the load. You can either continue to grow mushrooms out your rear or you can start working towards a better job that pays. It's simple as my boss says, " You make me money and I'll make you money", and I'm all about making our company profitable. Did I mention profit sharing and bonuses? You expect big league pay at the T ball level? I'll help you help yourself, join the armed forces and get 30 days a year that can be banked up to 90 days. The harder you work will help you get promoted faster thereby increasing your paycheck plus you get free medical, dental and vision.

You're funny. " You make me money and I'll make you money" - of course that means the boss can chose how much that money is. And when times get 'tough' he can chose not to pay you more. The Europeans actually have it right. Work to live - not live to work. There is a balance. Doing a job well is a great feeling. But a society and system where organizations prey on your fears to get more out of you because 'we may need to make cuts' is just wrong. I work for myself. Its challenging. But guess what - no more stressful than my old boss who used to yell and scream and mandate I miss kids activities etc to do what I was told. Just saying..there's a different way and thats okay..

I get two weeks for the first 5 years then it's an additional day each year after until a maximum of four weeks. The Eurolazy model promotes slackards who barely do the minimums, can't get fired and make the same pay as the person who carries the load.

Wow! A whole day more every year. So you'll only have to work at that company for 15 years to get 4 weeks off? What a deal./s

You can call the Swiss lazy all you want and I bet they could give a crap. They get paid well and have low economic inequality, and as the story said get a minimum of 4 weeks off a year, universal healthcare and a retirement system that doesn't work like an ATM for politicians (like ours is used). They will get 4 weeks off a year and only work until there 60-65. So yeah you can call them lazy all you want, but the jokes on you considering that those "lazy" people will live longer, less stressful lives than you could ever hope for.

Also this statement doesn't really scream lazy does it.

The Swiss have a reputation in Europe for being efficient and hard-working, a trait that has helped the country attract international companies and do well in competitiveness rankings.

Maybe you should step outside of the bubble before criticizing someone else's much much better bubble. They're so lazy that they don't have to offer tax incentives for companies to do business there./s

lug66, there is a clear connection between heart disease and lack of family balance. I believe the book "outliers" discussed this possibility in the first chapter.

It appears that the Swiss prefers prostitution to family anyhow.

Over 3/4 of the jobs available carry 0 vacation and 0 insurance.

Where did you come up with this nonsense? If your going to use completely made up statistics for you argument at least try to make them sound reasonable.

Over 3/4 of the jobs available carry 0 vacation and 0 insurance.

That's complete BS. Every job I have ever interviewed for has offered at least two weeks paid vacation plus benefits.

You must be stuck in the minimum-wage skill bracket or something.

So many comments here claim that 'live to work' is wrong and should be 'work to live'. That's so sad because it means these people are not doing what they enjoy, they're not living their passion. What's the point of all the years of education, training, experience if in the end you think your job is 'just a job'?

When you enjoy your career then 'live to work' and 'work to live' are the same thing.

If you're not there yet, then change your life.

Woody316

I get two weeks for the first 5 years then it's an additional day each year after until a maximum of four weeks. The Eurolazy model promotes slackards who barely do the minimums, can't get fired and make the same pay as the person who carries the load.

Wow! A whole day more every year. So you'll only have to work at that company for 15 years to get 4 weeks off? What a deal./s

4 weeks in about 15 yrs is about right in many companies including the one i use to work for. In fact recently, they increased the amount of time you have to be on the job too a minimum of 1 week to start as well as the time it takes for longer vacation time, and this is a fortune 500 company.

If you're not there yet, then change your life.

So are you going to pay my bills while I go to college to get a graphic designer degree? It's not quite a black and white solution to the problem. If I wanted to truly follow my passion I would have to put my family and our financial situations on hold to attend college just to get strapped with more debt in a field where work is slim. So it's not just a "do what you love" problem.

Also it must be nice to be these people on here that have never interviewed for a job that didn't offer 2 weeks paid vacation. Almost every job I have applied for never gave two weeks to start. At most it was a year without ANY paid vacation then at the end of the first year it was two weeks at best but most would just let you start accruing time off. It worked out to a 1/2 day off for every week worked. Sounds good in theory other than the fact that the paid vacation you accrued also was for any sick time you needed.

Also you guys fail to see that companies are exploiting temporary contract workers these days. You go in for an interview where they promise you the job and talk about nothing other then a permanent position at that company. Then you find out that the position you have "won" might as well be a revolving door for temporary workers. They pay the temp agency $25/hr (estimate) and then pay the worker $15 /hr but don't have to pay for benefits. I am a trained and skilled worker doing structured cabling so it's not as if I just need more schooling to land a better job.

4 weeks in about 15 yrs is about right in many companies including the one i use to work for

If you ask me there's nothing "right" about it. You would be lucky to have 15 years of job security these days. If you give workers 4 weeks off it will lead to less stressed employees which equals happier employees. Happier employees are harder workers and better problem solvers than ones that are mad constantly. When people are happy with their job the perform better, have better attendance and aren't just there to collect a paycheck. America is fixated on productiveness over employee happiness. When one will lead to the other.

chris 629698 i do not agree with these stats, however, most of the jobs not in a big city are and majority of america has jobs that pay low insurance and vacation time. i do not know how old you are but most people aged 25 and lower are stuck with poor quality jobs like fast food, local gas stations, grocery stores. In a society, if treat our fellow brothers and sisters with an interest for the children, that will be the only true sucessful society.

Lug66, your theory is a bit flawed. It is more like, "You make me money, I will pay my self an obscene bonus then lay off a thousand employees."

"i do not know how old you are but most people aged 25 and lower are stuck with poor quality jobs like fast food, local gas stations, grocery stores. In a society, if treat our fellow brothers and sisters with an interest for the children, that will be the only true sucessful society."

This is true, however there are people who really aren't qualified for more than low-level service jobs. If you slack off in high school and drop out/don't attend college, what do you expect to do for a living?

It's all about competition. If American workers could work as hard as Latin American immigrants, there'd be no jobs for the illegal immigrants coming to America. If you offer state-mandated job protection, then employees are under less pressure over losing their job and won't work as hard.

There is a balance between treating employees like human beings and treating employers like rabid slave overseers that need to be constantly reigned in. Given that America's "high" unemployment figures, just around 10%, is a pretty common figure in Europe, I think we have it right so far. Six weeks is just too much vacation time. Who the hell should get paid to spend a month and a half not working?

The idea is disgusting.

Disgusting only if done correctly.

They're already having sex for money...why should having it away from the public be so much more offensive?

As for the rest of it, I can't say I'm surprised. Most Swiss people over 30 live to work, instead of working to be able to live a calm and relaxed life. Local government agencies are only open until 5, 5:30 if you're lucky, so that if you have to go take care of paperwork, you've got to take time off work to do so. Grocery stores and shopping malls are only open until 6:30 and 9, respectively (some regions keep stores open until 9:30 pm one night a week, so you have to plan for that one late night of food-shopping if you've got a demanding job or wait until the weekend), giving you little time to get errands done after work. It's kind of insane. Only the bars and fast-food establishments are open until late. It's their way of life...more power to them if they want to live it.

Sorry pal, it's a typo. They get Xboxs.

XXXBoxes?

I think Walmart should start doing it here, they have a lot of available parking spaces all over the country. Great franchise idea, btw...

I never understood why Americans attach such stigmas to sex and nudity - but they are ok with extreme violence.

Ron i agree completely and the funny thing is it is normally the conservatives that are against anything to do with sex but the first ones to warmonger

No warmongering or sex boxes in this video !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43B_9LBdx6Y

One of many reasons the Swiss are so happy. Talking is silver, yodeling is gold !

Needaplan - the United States has NO LAW that guarantees minimum vacation time. I've known many people who have worked DECADES WITH NO VACATION. We still treat the least among us as our semi-slaves.

Even if there was a law the big corps will happily find a way to tell their vacation-refreshed peons "Sorry, we are not meeting our performance goals so we have to let you go."

Their "performance goals", of course, are like oil prices--made up as they go along, when they're not simply code words for "discrimination".

Businesses don't pay taxes or the costs of doing business (vacation time) they always pass it on in the final sales price and will compete for the lowest profit possible to stay competitive.

"lowest", or highest?

Game kid, your post is utter nonsense.

Virtually every business has an employees manual, that specifies what the goals are.

That is the only way they can make them stick without legal problems.

You are pulling garbage out of your nose.

Your baldly and vitriolic anti-business rant makes me doubt that you are, in fact, a wealthy economist.

I mean, Christ, even Keynes recognized that business was important.

Businesses create the jobs and make your stuff. You don't have to like them for it if you're really that spiteful, but we should at least keep the government from crippling them.

@Curious Bob - the 6-week vacation referendum was rejected in every single canton. Generally the outcome was most decisive in the north-eastern cantons.

Hahahah

Joe, They are:

Everyone family there has a fully automatic gun in their closets, but they do not get into wars:

Every man-jack has to serve, but there are no draft dodgers:

the place has 4 languages: Their schools there TEACH 4 languages.

We cant be the Swiss, not should we, but we can learn from them.

The Swiss are damn impressive, I'll give them that. Their referendum system is leaps and bounds beyond California's broken "proposition" model of direct democracy.

And they make awesome knives.

It's not nearly as big a problem as actually being seen doing the deed, it seems.

and they are as good as Swiss watches... ;)

@14 - Switzerland is 15,940 sq miles. I'm not even going to check the rest of your "facts."

Someone read Wikipedia wrong.... Switzerland is much bigger than NYC and much bigger than 477 sq miles...

Switzerland is actually 15,940 square miles (roughly the size of Vermont and New Hampshire put together) with 477 people per square mile.

I don't give damn how much bigger America is than Switzerland the idea of allowing us to vote on referendums rather than leaving all the decisions in the hands of the Feds is super appealling to me. These guys promise us the moon and the stars and once they get elected all they care about is their owns agendas. They don't give a rat's ass about the American public. My first preffered referendum question would be whether they should re-institute the post depression laws that would have prevented the economic collapse. Damn right they should. Next I want a question about whether the American public should have the right to vote for the Supreme Court justices. Double damn right we should. Third question: Should politicians that lie to get in office be impeachable when their lies come to light after they are elected. Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn right they should be.

Whew I could go on forever.

Good idea! That and the sex boxes. Let's get some of those too.

Perhaps the benefits are not worth it? Broken families, disease (yes you can catch HIV from someone who has tested negative during the latent period), sex addiction, not to mention the temptation to do something you wouldn't ordinarily do because it's legal now.

Anyone having problems with frequency needs to rethink their whole relationship.

Yea, Im an atheist but still don't agree with legalizing prostitution. The rampant spread of disease would burden the health system even more. As janellect said it would also destroy the families of the men/women who were caught. Just because Im not religious doesn't mean I don't have morals.

janellect and thatguydownsouth you are both morons. It's not legal now in most places, yet we still have prostitutes. The 28 legal brothels in Nevada hold the sex workers to a high standard. They can't have a criminal record and they are tested monthly. Since prostitution goes on anyway (just look in the yellow pages) why not make it legal and regulate it to make it safer?

diamond, you really don't think that once it becomes legal, the industry won't grow? That there will be people who normally don't participate that start to? That you can NEVER catch HIV if the other person does not test positive?

Now who is the moron?

Diamond, calling a person a moron but then saying something stupid just makes you look like a complete tard. You cant test for HPV...if its made legal it will become the norm over time just like in Amsterdam...how would you regulate something like prostitution? Its a personal act not an exchange of goods

The 28 legal brothels in Nevada hold the sex workers to a high standard. They can't have a criminal record and they are tested monthly. Since prostitution goes on anyway (just look in the yellow pages) why not make it legal and regulate it to make it safer?

Regulating prostitution sounds really good; however, my problem with the business is that it preys on women who are desperate or have no skills.

Working at McDonalds because you don't have a choice is much different than working at a brothel because you don't have a choice.

I don't know about you, but having sex with women who don't really want to do it, but don't feel they have a choice just doesn't seem right.

But, as you said, it's going to happen whether it's legal or not, so it's a tricky problem to solve.

Prostitution is not harmful to women, illegal prostitution is. When it is illegal, there is nobody around to protect these women, it is not like they can go to the cops.

Prostitution will not dramatically increase the spread of disease. Look at the porn industry, they have no cases of infected actors. Going to a bar/club and picking up a drunk girl, however, is dangerous. If you have unprotected with a prostitute, even with testing, there is some risk they have been infected since their last test 30 days ago. If you have unprotected sex with a girl in a bar, she might not have been tested in 10 years, or ever. Or worse, a prostitute that doesn't get tested, as it is currently illegal.

Nobody is forcing women to become prostitutes. I understand economic pressure, but think of it like this... If economic pressures haven't forced a girl to become a prostitute now, it will not change when it is legal. Those that are prostitutes today will simply enjoy safer working conditions and more frequent testing.

Show me the HIV outbreaks in Amsterdam and Las Vegas. Or any STD outbreaks, for that matter.

If it's legal, it can be regulated to reduce the dangers. If it's not, then it happens anyway, and you get all the accompanying hallmarks of criminal enterprise.

It's not like I care about the prostitution industry itself, but every argument I hear for keeping it illegal falls totally flat. I only see those attitudes hurting people.

There have been infected porn actors. Easy enough to google yourself.

My big complaint is that it will become the norm. How many legal abortions are there today compared to illegal ones in the 1960s? There is no stigma attached to being a unmarried mom today, so the major reason is convenience. And although there are no back alley abortion deaths, some human is paying the price.

Really, you are comparing consensual sex between two adults, albeit for money, with murder and child abuse?

Legalized drugs is the only good comparison. Alcohol is a drug, when it was illegal, things were much worse. So yes, legalize prostitution and some drugs.

Taziar, you don't think legalized prostitution hurts anyone?

it was the greed from the con men who created the financial crisis that put investing Europeans countries in trouble. Greece has to rely on the only resource they have, tourism, and without $ to travel they got sucked up in it

The financial crisis was caused by Greek politicians borrowing money they had no way to pay back and then lying about it. I'm not sure if that's who you were referring to, since you use the oblique term "con men".

Another cause is that Greek's economy was in a shambles even without that. Employees are ridiculously hard to fire, and numerous professions are shielded from competition and are promised substantial and often unwarranted pay rises. And then there's the vacation.

You DO actually need businesses to have an economy, you know. Do you want to run a business where you have to pay your people to do nothing for more than a month?

Yeah, why would you want six weeks vacation? They already get one month a year! So that equates to 3.91 years vacation to 47 years working (65-18).... way too much.

Road Warrior-252445

I guess that makes the U.S. Military a bunch of Union Thugs since they get 30 days of Paid Vacation a year?

I guess that makes Israel a Bunch of Marxists since they have Universal Health Care and we send them Billions in Taxpayer assistance every year?

Well, they do get work done. Better than many others. Jealousy is a stinky cologne.

What do Swiss make?

ted,

The military risk their lives for the country. They deserve it. Surely, you are not comparing a worker sitting on his or her behind to a soldier.

jane,

Are you counting the 20 holidays the Swiss get?

Well Road, Where to begin.... They have the highest wealth per capita in the world, one of the most stable currencies in the world, 8th GDP per capita, the best timepiece manufacturing in the world, the best precision instrument manufacturing in the world, great chocolate, good with chemicals, etc etc...

Roadwarrior,

"Surely, you are not comparing a worker sitting on his or her behind to a soldier."

The U.S. Military used to be a Good Deal but now their Lifetime No Cost Health Care at Military Facilities is being threatened. It has been replaced by Tricare which Congress is in the Process of Gutting as we speak. http://www.naus.org/documents/NAUS_SenMcCain_Ltr_16Nov11.pdf

As a Retired Military Man, I now know what is like being a civilian working stiff. You're just a Target for a Buck and there is no way to Earn your Freedom anymore let alone a decent Quality of life.

Competitiveness is Code speak for, You will move towards Slavery and no hope of earning your freedom in your Lifetime and be told over and over that this is something good.

Thank God I have a small pension, because Corporate America has got People Like you Brainwashed...

What do Swiss make?

What time is it?

Teal,

Good response. They do have a good economy. They credit their prosperity with "ease of doing business". They have the world's lowest corporate tax rates. They get 40% of their electricity from nuclear and in the midst of several nuclear plant construction. Everyone owns a gun. Looks like the Swiss are pretty smart people. This latest rejection by the voters of the unions' push for more vacation time is further evidence of it.

Road, Yes, they do have the lowest corporate tax rates in the world, and it works well! Many should take note of that, as well as the fact that they pay way higher income tax than the US. Both of those put together make sense, and generates business and wealth. And contrary to popular belief, nuclear is the current best option (just enforce better safety regulation, even with a price hike with uber safety, still cheaper than coal etc, and cleaner too...) Don't demonize the union too much, they overstep sometimes, but provide some good as well in an environment like Switzerland, good to have checks and balances, they know how to manage it.

How can they get any work done? I guess the answer is "They don't"

All their economic stats tell a different story. They get plenty done. They realized that a relaxed rested employee gets more done in 48 weeks than an overworked slave gets done in 51.

Road, lowest tax rates really doesn't mean anything. You would have to compare what the corporation ACTUALLY pays in taxes. US companies that have 35% tax rates rarely pay close to that, the average is closer to 18.5%. The average corporate tax rate in Switzerland is 21.2%.

Those are general numbers, and vary by industry depending on loop holes that are available to exploit, but corporations are lying when they bitch about how high the tax rate is.

An example with personal tax. Wealthy tax rate is 30%ish. Romney paid 13.9% on 27 Million. I paid more that 13.9% in taxes, working out of a cubicle.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/11/03/news/economy/corporate_taxes/index.htm

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703422904575039431012272688.html

But I do agree about nuclear power being a good option.

Tazair,

I think you have the tax rates and structures all confused. Corporate tax rate has nothing to do with employees tax rate.

Ah, so four weeks vacation is "slavery" now? If the bar isn't moving toward paying more workers for nothing, then we're regressing toward sweatshops? So that's the way the bar moves, is it...

Well when it comes to that, they can send all the Jobs to Communist China where they know how to make Capitalism work. Wait they already have most of the Jobs that used to exist here...

All those Chinese Workers jumping off buildings now are just going on Vacation, right?

oh sure...while productivity is up and wages are down...the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer...are we still teaching our children to share or letting them learn greed from our example...I hear "he who dies with the most toys win" but what ever happened to the Golden Rule? oh yes, the golden rule now is he who dies with the most gold wins

The Oil from the Proposed Keystone XL Pipeline is destined for foreign markets. That Oil will do nothing to bring down Gas Prices in the States and will only provide a few thousand Temp Jobs...

Why would we need a pipeline to the gulf for oil for the US? Oh wait, we don't, Ted is right....

Ted, stop the nonsense.

Let me put this in a way that even an obamite can understand.

When supply goes up price goes down

Start drilling dowm within 10 years we could ne self sufficent and paying $.50 cents a gal for gas.

why did oil lobyists try to rush the oil pipeline through with the budget bill which it was a disgrace to hold up in the first place...was it maybe because the pipline only had their interests in mind....money and politics....Babylonian....go see that moral movie for kids The Lorax....that might make it easier to understand....while we use our 4dr 4wd pickups and SUV for single person transportation and then complain about the price of gas...when we use less the price goes down, who ultimately is in control?but we can't see the forest for the trees and we are too vain to give up our gas guzzlers

robert argent

Rupert Murdoch already said that if we invade Iraq, oil will be $20 Dollars a Barrel.

Do you see $20 Dollars a Barrel Oil, I don't see no Stinking $20 Dollars a Barrel Oil???

How long ago was that?

Promises, promises! the Check is in the Mail and I promise I won't....

And for a good government it's all about reconciling the two. You might think money is vulgar, but life is much shorter (and more miserable) without it.