Demokratie

Switzerland is (apparently) one of the most directly democratic countries on earth. What this means in theory is that every Swiss citizen has the right to vote on any number of issues- from shop opening times to the infamous minaret ban. In practise this often allows the mob, rather than common sense, to vote on any number of issues- from shop opening times...

Since being here there have been several referenda in Basel Stadt, my lovely home-canton (not that that's a real thing), and shortly there will be one nation-wide: Eidgenössische Volksinitiative «für die Ausschaffung krimineller Ausländer (Ausschaffungsinitiative)» Or, whether foreign criminals should be expelled from the Confederation.

The whole thing has drawn discussion from all sides. Those who support the original proposal of the SVP (Swiss People's Party), the alternative proposal of the federal council which is seeking to limit the extent of the law, and those who oppose both the proposal and the alternative.

The outcome is of great interest to me- not because I intend to commit any crimes, but also to see how the world will react if (as is likely) the SVP-backed proposal is voted in. Either way, I won't have to see the posters expressing support for the proposal once the vote has taken place. They're just too sinister:

"Creating safety"