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To: FiveFour who wrote (55061)	10/29/2004 12:24:42 AM
From: Elroy Jetson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 74559

Well, there's a joke that says "those things in Switzerland which are not prohibited, are mandatory." Because the greatest power in Switzerland is the Canton (about the size of Los Angeles County) rather than the Federal government, the Swiss feel they control their government and are very, very involved in government affairs. America is a Republic where others govern us, while Switzerland is a Democracy. Laws and treaties which would be voted upon by Congress in America are voted on by all citizens in a national referendum which takes place once a year on five consecutive Sundays. Political advertisements are prohibited but everyone is very active in political debates which take place in every town. Switzerland spends a great deal of money on national defense and everyone is in essentially the Army Reserve until age 62. Everyone in the military is required to own and keep serviced an army semi-automatic rifle, and army officers must also keep a side arm. To bring your rifle or sidearm out of your house and into public in Switzerland you must: be wearing your military uniform; the weapon must be unloaded; you must be under orders to do so. Violation of these requirements gives the police and the military (which means everyone) the right to shoot you on sight. The first time I visited my relative in Blonay, I went to the police station because the homes had no numbers. He told me their home was the third on the left of the second street - but he was on holiday in Brittany until tomorrow afternoon. He asked me if I wanted the telephone number of his Son in Lutry or his daughter in Lausanne. I said yes, that would be convenient. He snapped his fingers and the secretary went to a card catalog and wrote down the numbers for me. Before I left he reminded me that if I stayed with my relatives I was required to register at the police station first, with my passport. I asked him what the purpose of this law was. He rolled his shoulders in a way that made it seem like he thought it was incredibly obvious, "If something should happen, how would we know who did it?"