When we moved to Switzerland from Germany we were quite shocked for not founding the German dairy products we were used to. We were also laughing at all the Swiss logos you find on food products “made in Switzerland”. After more than 2 years living in Switzerland, we do now admire the food autarchism Switzerland built up. We admire a system 1) supporting workers of their own land. 2) more than adequately controlling the quality of its own production 3) protecting us from the cheap-toxic-food produced by other lands.
Food autarchy is good for Swiss people, is good for Swiss economy and is good also for us just living in this land, especially when I read about eggs/milk with melamine, crazy cows or dioxin buffalo mozzarella.
Food autarchy is not good for the global market. I’ve pretty well understood after the last crisis grew up what global market is good for: polluting logistic companies, unscrupulous company manager and thieving bankers . So, imho, to Hell with the global market and long life to food autarchy.
Discuss Biology
I’m sorry but that sounds a bit xenophobic. Isn’t it? Or I just misinterpreted the post?
I don’t think so. For the market products Switzerland can produce, I think protectionism is good. Higher taxes on import products that can be produced in Switzerland are good for the Swiss industry. What’s xenophobic in it?
You said “We admire a system 1) supporting workers of their own land.” That sounds a bit clannish. Isn’t it? That doesn’t have to do with protectionism which is good but the attitude to support only the local workers can lead our minds to dark thoughts… (Ok the Swiss have build up a very clannish system, so maybe the foreign workers feel inferiors). I just don’t understand it maybe so give it a better explanation.
…I am curious enough abt Switzerland.
When I wrote this post I was thinking about the many Italian workers now jobless at home as several Italian industries migrated to less expensive countries. If the Italian government would have helped them, keeping the production in the country and putting taxes on import products, Italian workers would feel better. Don’t you think?
Yes I couldn’t agree more. I just understood wrong. Do you know sometimes words have two meanings. When you say “local” workers, sometimes the way we describe it can causes misunderstandings.
The Italian example is not only an Italian phenomenon. The same applies in Greece as well, where the most of the companies (a few we had) emigrated to Turkey, increasing consequently the number of the ppl who are claiming unemployment benefits. Us and Britain did the same but the most of this jobs have been replaced. It’s a big mistake to copy what other rich countries do when there is not economical support.
The Swiss model seems to be one of the best and most stable as I take. I hope it will continue that way. I wish I was living there… but my German skills are crap…