Why Iceland is Not resuming negotiations to join the EU

Very recommendable!

(150) Why Iceland is Not Joining the EU - YouTube

Iceland votes against restarting EU membership talks

Good news! Stay independent of the EU as much as you can!

Population of Iceland about 400,000.

"Iceland has voted against resuming talks on joining the European Union 13 years after they were broken off.

Public broadcaster RUV reported that 52.8% of the more than 225,000 people who voted had rejected the government's proposal, while 47.2% had backed it. Some 12,600 votes separated them.

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir's centre-left government promised to hold a referendum by 2027, but brought it forward because of international tensions, including US President Donald Trump's threats against Greenland.

However, debate in this island nation of almost 400,000 people centred more on its fishing industry rather than security concerns.

With some 270,000 people eligible to vote, RUV reported the turnout of 82.5% was the highest in any Icelandic election since 2009.

Already part of the EU's single market and Schengen border-free zone, full EU membership would bring Iceland into the customs union and eventually the eurozone currency union. ..."

Iceland votes against restarting EU membership talks

Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir

Iceland's EU referendum at end of August 2026: "No" is a vote for freedom

This will be an interesting referendum! Hope and pray the citizens of Iceland will vote no! Population of Iceland less than 400,000.

"On 29 August 2026, Iceland holds a referendum on whether to renew its 2009 application for membership of the European Union, which was put on hold in 2013.

Iceland is already deeply integrated into Europe through its membership of the European Economic Area (EEA) with Norway, Liechtenstein, and, for all practical purposes, Switzerland, since 1994. Through the EEA, it enjoys access to the Single Market while retaining control of its fisheries, agriculture, foreign trade, and monetary affairs.

Supporters of membership argue, however, that Iceland should join the EU to exert influence over the rules of the Single Market. Opponents counter that this influence would be negligible: 0.8 per cent of the members of Parliament; 0.1 per cent of the vote on most issues in the European Council; one out of 28 commissioners and one out of 28 judges in the Court of Justice of the European Union, both of whom are supposed not to serve the interests of their home country. ..."

Iceland's EU referendum: "No" is a vote for freedom

Flag of Iceland (Source)

Switzerland to Introduce Digital ID Cards After Razor-Thin Referendum

Good news! We are living now at the end of the first quarter of the 21st century! About time!

Shows again that the Swiss citizens have common sense and prefer practical solutions!

"... Proponents have noted that it will be an optional system, and that government authorities or private firms which use the system will be prohibited from obtaining more information than is needed from the digital ID card. ...

The IDs, which will function as a smartphone app, will be used to access government services, provide age verification, and enable virtual transactions, such as opening a bank account or starting a mobile phone contract.

The government is also said to be planning to use the system to introduce digital travel tickets and potentially use it to develop an e-voting system. ..."

Switzerland to Introduce Digital ID Cards After Razor-Thin Referendum "Digital identity cards are set to be introduced in Switzerland after voters narrowly approved a referendum on Sunday."

Taiwan votes in nuclear power referendum

Recommendable! Hopefully, the Taiwanese people will decide to continue to use nuclear power!

DEMOCRACY App for Germany makes direct democracy possible

I just learnt about this app available on Google Play! This could be a revolution!

Actually, we have the technology to conduct referenda on any political issue and more often than the famous direct democracy Switzerland. Direct democracy is within reach.

"Make yourself a member of parliament"

"Follow up bills and decisions.

Take part in votes in the Bundestag.

Control your politicians.

Strengthen your political influence."

DEMOCRACY - Apps on Google Play

DEMOCRACY 1 . 5 Weil deine Stimme zählt!

Credits: Unter der Glaskuppel

OECD-Mindestunternehmenssteuer: Selten war eine Schweizer Volksabstimmung von so globaler Wichtigkeit!

Werden die Schweizer Bürger die Welt vor einem großen und gefährlichen Unsinn retten? Beten und Hoffen!

Ich vertraue auf die Besonnenheit der Schweizer Bürger diese Maßnahme abzulehnen! Erinnert euch des Rütlischwur!

Das immer Steuereinnahmen gierige Big Government hasst den Steuerwettbewerb! Wenn die OECD damit durchkommt, war das erst der Anfang! Wehret den Anfängen der Allmacht des Staates!

Wieder so ein Beispiel ätzender Globalisierung durch Zwangsvereinheitlichung!

OECD-Mindeststeuer: Das ändert sich bei einem Ja Rund 140 Länder, einschliesslich der Schweiz, haben sich auf die Einführung einer Mindeststeuer für internationale Grosskonzerne von 15 Prozent des Gewinns geeinigt. Bundesrat und Parlament haben die Schweizer Umsetzung beschlossen. Das Volk stimmt am 18. Juni darüber ab.

Referendum Covid-19-Gesetz: Die Schweiz stimmt bald wieder ab

Good news! Die Schweizer Bürger protestieren gegen Impfpässe, Diskriminierung von Ungeimpften, contract tracing usw.! Davon kann man in der Bananenrepublik Deutschland nur träumen!

History will not judge kindly about the human response to global Covid-19 pandemic!

"... Die Gegner des Gesetzes lehnen vor allem die Einführung des Covid-Zertifikats ab, das in ihren Augen Ungeimpfte diskriminiert und eine «Zweiklassengesellschaft» schafft. Zudem sei das Gesetz durch das Contact-Tracing eine Grundlage für Massenüberwachung. ..."

Referendum Covid-19-Gesetz: Die Schweiz stimmt bald wieder ab Im Juni ist das Referendum gegen das Gesetz zur Corona-Krise klar gescheitert. Doch die Gegner starteten sofort ein neues Referendum und erreichten die nötigen Unterschriften rasch. Was würde ein Erfolg der Gegner an der Urne bedeuten?

Swiss Jews join Muslims in protesting referendum banning face-coverings

This recent referendum outcome was not the Swiss people's finest hour! I blogged here about it.

"Swiss voters passed a referendum on banning face-covering veils, prompting the country’s Muslim and Jewish groups to protest that infringement on religious freedoms.

The Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities and the Platform for Liberal Jews in Switzerland said the ban, which passed with 51% of the vote on Sunday, “restricts and violates several conditions of religious freedom.” In their joint statement, the groups also said they are “concerned that further legislative or federal popular initiatives could further undermine religious freedom in the future.”

The Swiss “have a long history of trying to curb migrations through banning religious practice,” Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, the president of the Conference of European Rabbis and a Zurich native, wrote in a separate statement.

In 1892, the Swiss ban on kosher slaughter, which remains in place today, was “designed to stop the Jewish migration from Russia” from pogroms, he added. ..."

Swiss Jews join Muslims in protesting referendum banning face-covering veils - Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Notes on Swiss referendum on ‘burka ban’ accepted by slim majority

The Swiss people have a long tradition of holding frequent referenda on all sorts of subjects. Most of the time, it is remarkable how common sense and reasoning of the people prevails. In this respect, the Swiss people are a global paragon of democracy!

However, this particular referendum on whether a person can wear a face covering or not in public is short sighted and not very convincing:

1. The narrow outcome of this referendum (51.2%) suggests that a qualified majority requirement needs to be urgently instituted (e.g. at least 60% majority) for constitutional changes
2. This referendum clearly aims at religious freedom even though it says face covering. Islam is by far not the only religion instituting particular dress codes. Think of orthodox Jews or Indian Sikhs (turban and a knife) etc. Do the Swiss people want to tell Sikhs not to wear turbans anymore?The referendum includes several exceptions from the ban of wearing face coverings, why not religion?
3. This referendum also undermines the all important and world  famous federalism (Confoederatio Helvetica) in Switzerland. This issue of face covering should have been left to the individual cantons to decide 
4. First the Swiss people banned the building of minarets, now the banned face coverings for religious reasons. I am not sure where this is going
5. This latest referendum possibly violates the world famous Swiss neutrality principle

"A decade after another national vote that banned the building of minarets, Switzerland will introduce a clause in its constitution to outlaw face coverings, including the Islamic burka and niqab, in public spaces. Exceptions to the law will include face coverings for reasons of security, climate, or health – which means protective masks worn against Covid-19 are acceptable. Niqabs and burkas will still be allowed in places of worship. ...
It also marks a blow for the government and parliament, who had opposed the ban on the grounds that it was unnecessary – both because of the low number of niqab-wearers in the country, and because the 26 cantons can legislate on such issues themselves. ..."

Swiss ‘burka ban’ accepted by slim majority - SWI swissinfo.ch

Responsible Business Initiative in Switzerland

This is alarming! Historically, the Swiss people have shown a lot of common sense when it comes to doing business. However, this new referendum has the potential to cripple successful Swiss businesses. Hopefully, the Swiss people will soundly reject such initiatives!

Businesses should follow the law not the whims of ideological or political activists and agitators!

"The Responsible Business Initiative wants multinationals to respect human rights and the environment in their activities abroad. Under the Responsible Business Initiative, companies will be legally obliged to incorporate respect for human rights and the environment in all their business activities. This mandatory due diligence will also be applied to Swiss based companies’ activities abroad.
The mandatory due diligence instrument is based on the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights."

Who is behind these Guiding Principles? Perhaps Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela ...

Responsible Business Initiative - find out more now!

Que Vadis Switzerland?

Posted: 6/23/2019  Updated: 7/1/2019

Update Of 7/1/2019

In my original post below, I overlooked to mention that the Swiss people apparently are also more willing to make severe and detrimental concessions to the gun control obsessed EU (S1). 

More recently, the EU is forcing its stricter capital markets and stock exchange rules on Switzerland. Unfortunately, it seems Switzerland is again caving in! 

Original Post

I have been in awe for decades about this little country Switzerland that managed so well to survive in peace for several hundreds of years. Stories like the famous Wilhelm Tell and the Rütlischwur are still resonating today.

Switzerland A Paragon In More Than One Way

Let’s briefly remind us again why Switzerland is so important to the world:

1. Switzerland is a paragon of limited and small government: E.g. Switzerland has consistently one of the lowest levels of government spending as a share of the economy among the OECD countries
2. Switzerland is a paragon of federalism and decentralized government power: The Swiss have genuine federalism and decentralized government
3. Switzerland is a paragon of self defense: Switzerland has one of the highest gun ownership rate in the world. It also has one of the lowest lowest homicide rate in the world 
4. Switzerland is a living laboratory of direct democracy. Referenda are frequent and the outcomes are in most cases very reasonable 
5. Switzerland has been for centuries a master of reason, common sense, and pragmatism in politics

Too Many Things Went Wrong

But all is not well in recent times with this small country to my great dismay.

Switzerland has succumbed to too many really bad compromises to please e.g. the U.S. or the European Union:

1. The famous Swiss bank secrecy law was watered down
2. The hegemon EU has directly or indirectly imposed lots of its burdensome regulations on Switzerland. Most recently, the Swiss voted for tighter gun control in a referendum

I have previously blogged about Switzerland here, here. I had planned a few more posts on Switzerland in the past, but never got around it. Therefore, e.g. some of my sources below are a bit dated.

Giving Up Economic Freedom For What!

Over the last two or three decades, Switzerland has unnecessarily given up substantial economic freedoms to conform with EU laws and regulations that are actually stifling economic freedom (see S3). It is totally incomprehensible that the citizens of Switzerland agreed to this subjugation! Wilhelm Tell is spinning in his grave!

“Dieses Recht [EU Recht] ist oft unternehmensfeindlich und schützt einseitig die Konsumenten, die Anleger und die Arbeitnehmer.” (S3; translated: The law of the EU is often adversarial to businesses and biased in protecting consumers, stockholders, and employees)

Abuse Of Direct Democracy

There are reports that the famous direct democracy in Switzerland has been perverted to promote the expansion of centralized government and a larger socialist welfare state in Switzerland (S2).

One of the reasons reported why it was possible to subvert the direct democracy in Switzerland is the low threshold of initiating a referendum, which used to be for many years 100,000 signatures (S2).

Swiss Bank Secrecy

Finally, it seems it dawns on the Swiss people how foolish they were to give in to pressure from the U.S. and Europe to relax the famous bank secrecy laws in Switzerland.

It appears it was in particular the most unlawful U.S. president since Nixon and the most socialist U.S. president since Franklin D. Roosevelt, i.e. Barack Obama, who pushed the Swiss over using means like extortion! What a disgrace for the Switzerland! (see S4). As the author of Source No. 4 points out this was a complete disaster for Switzerland! Not only that, e.g. the Isle of Man (a notorious tax haven) fought back much more effectively than Switzerland! It would have served Switzerland so much better to oppose this pretentious President Obama full force!

Apparently, Switzerland had several so called whistle blowers that purportedly exposed the illegal dealings of Swiss banks! Here again, the Swiss failed to defend their businesses!

Sure a significant number of infamous and lesser known, bloody dictators and their cronies have hidden their ill gotten money in Switzerland. On the other hand, many honest and reasonable people were able to protect their assets by moving them to Switzerland!

Sources (S):

1. Why the Swiss Voted for More Gun Control (published 6/19/2019)
2. Die Schweiz: Freiheit oder Mehrheitsdiktatur? (published Nov. 2018)
3. Verteidigung der freiheitlichen Wirtschaftsordnung Das internationale Recht beeinflusst zunehmend die Wirtschaftspolitik. Die Selbstbestimmungsinitiative gibt hier Gegensteuer (published 4/13/2015)
4. Geschichte eines kollektiven Versagens Zwar war der internationale Druck enorm, trotzdem ist die Schweiz am Ausgang der Affäre um das Bankgeheimnis selber schuld. Eine kritische Aufarbeitung tut not. (6/15/2015)
5. Die Schweiz spielt mit dem Feuer (7/1/19)

Brexiteers Have A Place In Hell

Posted: 2/6/2019

EU Council president Donald Tusk, the devil incarnate, spoke and the world listened!

This is how unelected officials at the highest places think about a citizen’s referendum

The British citizens should now be much more determined to leave the EU as fast as possible!

Thanks Donald Tusk for fuming!

This is actually very disappoint that this outburst is coming from a respected person like Donald Tusk who was e.g. the “... was one of the co-founders of the free-market-oriented Liberal Democratic Congress party. ” in Poland.

Sources:

1. https://www.ft.com/content/5d79d8e6-2a09-11e9-a5ab-ff8ef2b976c7

Swiss Population Rejects 1:12 Government Wage Controls For Executives

The Common Sense Of The Swiss People Is Commendable

Roughly 65% of the Swiss voters on 11/24/2013 rejected the 1:12 Initiative for Fair Pay, but 34% supported it. That is the expected good news from Switzerland. However, this case raises a lot of hard questions …

Clear And Present Dangers Of Referenda

This should be a very cautious tale about what can seriously go wrong with political referenda/plebiscites.

First of all how did such an absurd, arbitrary, anti free market, anti individual liberty initiative get on the ballot especially in Switzerland anyway?  Should not the threshold be much higher to prevent such initiatives to get to the stage of being voted on?

The particular referendum should remind everyone again that the passions of the day can make referenda extremely dangerous. Just imagine if for some reason that a significant number of the silent majority had decided to stay home on that day

What About a 1:1 Initiative?

Had this Initiative won what would be next? Why was it a 1:12 and not a 1:6 Initiative?