Why are the Swiss so much anti EU?

Why are American products extremely expensive in Switzerland? tariffs?

Why is the main question in a conversation with Swiss people: Why don't you speak German? or What do you do here in Switzerland?

Why do majority of Swiss accept xenophobic public remarks and posters like those SVP black sheep posters?

Even though Switzerland has a high percentage of emigration I sense that foreigners are 2nd class citizens.

The Great War (WW1) has broken all the cultural boundaries that existed in Europe and it helped the Germans to evolve and to open their minds but I think that the Swiss are very very slow to evolve and their main concern is to maintain an unchanging culture.

I understand economics and law, but I get the sense that there is a serious cultural police mechanism in place.

are they? cost of importing plus transport? Why don't you speak German? Or French? Or Italian? there is no law against the posters and the Swiss I know are not really proud of them Bar offski and yourself, I disagree completely maybe it's you? There is?

I hope that Swiss people refrain from posting in this discussion.
Please include your place of origin and languages spoken.

Why do you hope that?

I would say a fairly large proportion of the populations of EU countries are anti-EU.
Just because one is anti-EU, doesn't mean to say one is anti-European.

One reason is that I don't need the typical Swiss answers. I learned that poem a few years ago.
Another is because I don't need the typical aggressive pointed replies that are typical from the Swiss.

I want the input from the foreigners in Switzerland.

FAIL.


Krypton.
English, German & Klingon


cheers
SC

Origin: Outside Switzerland
Speak: English, German

It's you.

How about typical aggressive pointed replies from non-Swiss? This is EF after all.

The other day I was watching the Richterswil Rabechilbi Festival. The kids worked together to create tigers, castles and other characters out of these candles. One of the creations was a larger than life Euro sign with a line through it. Created by 5 to 10 year olds...

Whilst there is some inaccurate and stereotypical nonsense in what you write, there is a genuine question lurking in there

In my experience, the Swiss are anti very little, but very pro Switzerland. The culture is pretty conformist, with compromise being preferred to conflict. There is a general feeling amongst the Swiss that they "got it right" whereas other countries did not. And they tend to be suspicious of anything which may erode that specialness

It has?

Well, until 1933, at least

A recent poll in the the UK showed that 49% (or was it 41%?) of those questioned were in favour of leaving the EU.

Your point being?

Special is a good word to describe it. like Special needs, etc...

ok, back on topic.

In the recent past, Irish children of that age have spat at each other based on religion.

I bet the kids were not really to blame.

Plus you're hitting InnenSchwyz and ripe SVP area in that location. That does not make a nation anti-EU.

Ummm, only Swiss have a place of origin, everyone else has a place of birth!

Tom

Hi MikeBaxter. Perhaps you could have started by saying where you are from (America I am guessing, given the comment on American goods) and why you are here. (I am from Australia btw)

Oh...so you didn't really want a serious discussion on the subject? Just lobbing insults instead?

Something tells me that Mike is not a master debater.

because the EU encroaches on their sovereignty and negates direct democracy. But like was said above, being anti-EU is not being anti-Europe
What kind of "American products" are you talking about? Food stuff? Buy non-American products. Swiss products are expensive in America too. I thought you said you understood economics.
No one has asked me that in the 10 years I've lived here.
The majority of Swiss people don't.
You should work on your self esteem.
The Swiss are not Germans. The Swiss can do what they want in their own country, no?
What does economics law have to do with cultural police? I've never met a cultural police. I think you're thinking of Saudi Arabia.


I would imagine that had to do with the teachers' point of view and not the 5-10 year olds. When I was little we sang a song that included the line (repeatedly) "When the old man died" to a bunch of grandparents. It wasn't our choice but the teachers.