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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#57576: Jul 2nd 2013 at 8:37:51 PM

[up]There's nuance with what you can buy, even. smile If he wants in (relatively) cheaply, he can manage to arrange terms for the higher level of the foreigner permit (you know, the kind that third-generation Italians born in Switzerland get — still won't be able to buy land in the Confederation, though, at that level — and they won't back you to the hilt afterwards, either).

He could wave the celebrity clause and get a Charlie Chaplin discount, I guess... <rubs chin>

[down]They... have a much different take on Neutrality than you seem to think: they will occasionally go out of their way to annoy larger powers in relatively mid-level ways to prove a point about being Neutral. They did the same to Nazi Germany when it was right on their doorstep, even while also accommodating them in other things. <shrugs> They could wind up selling him citizenship relatively cheaply to give them a paper shield to wave on his behalf — all legal, like. It wouldn't be the first time. I remember tales of some Soviet defectors being given papers for as little as a few Franks, rather than the standard gauge, just to annoy Moscow. tongue

edited 2nd Jul '13 8:49:36 PM by Euodiachloris

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#57577: Jul 2nd 2013 at 8:40:28 PM

The Swiss prize themselves on their neutrality. They don't tend to like doing anything that would hurt that.

Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#57578: Jul 2nd 2013 at 9:11:33 PM

Actually... this would be a wonderful way to passive-aggressively launch another complaint about the US (and the EU) being too intrusive in matters of data handling (specifically in the financial sector)... They've accommodated them a lot in the name of anti-terrorist measures, but aren't happy about it.

Part of me thinks they'll actually offer asylum as a "screw you: Neutral, remember?", now. <_< Play the cards right, and they can get concessions over this for one or two things, even... specifically from the EU. The EU doesn't seem to feel it can offer asylum, but might be happy if Switzerland does it, instead... And, Russia really won't mind. Of course, everybody would make some more noise about it, but I wonder what can be won behind the scenes? <ponders>

edited 2nd Jul '13 9:21:39 PM by Euodiachloris

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57579: Jul 2nd 2013 at 9:33:19 PM

Wait, jaywalking is a crime in the United States?

Yes. Not too long ago there was a case where a lady got fined for being hit by a car while crossing a street from the bus stop to her home...that didn't have a crosswalk in either direction for over two miles.

edited 2nd Jul '13 9:34:03 PM by Pykrete

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#57580: Jul 2nd 2013 at 11:27:14 PM

What has the jaywalking discussion to do with US politics?

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Greenmantle V from Greater Wessex, Britannia Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Hiding
V
#57581: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:07:44 AM

Anyway, Switzerland is one of those that rejected Snowden's request for Asylum because it wasn't made on their own territory.

Keep Rolling On
Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57582: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:32:28 AM

That's a really stupid reason to reject an asylum request. It forces a refugee to roll the dice on your bureaucracy and immediately get extradited if it falls through, instead of working something out before showing up.

I mean with the pressure the US is putting on all countries involved, almost any given country in the EU would just go "nope lol" the moment he showed up because we'd immediately threaten to send their economy into the stone age.

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:34:27 AM by Pykrete

GlennMagusHarvey Since: Jan, 2001
#57583: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:33:27 AM

^^^ We're discussing the criminal status of jaywalking in the United States, which is a policy issue. I don't see how it isn't relevant to U.S. politics. U.S. politics isn't just presidential elections, foreign relations, and stupid congresspeople spouting bullshit.

In fact, it would be REALLY nice for people to pay more attention to local politics and policy. People frequently take that stuff for granted and ignore it. In fact i'll be the first to say that I don't know who's running my county, even though I know who my state rep, federal rep, federal senator, governor, and president are. That said, at least I know that it's the county that runs this part of town, not any city government...but then again I don't know what sorts of policies they have in place for zoning laws, water resources, waste management (other than that trash is taken out on Tuesdays and Fridays), property taxes, and all these things that actually affect me very closely.

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:38:00 AM by GlennMagusHarvey

Pykrete NOT THE BEES from Viridian Forest Since: Sep, 2009
NOT THE BEES
#57584: Jul 3rd 2013 at 12:43:48 AM

I'm both happy and depressed to say I know who's running my county. Depressed because it's not the people on the ballot — it's the high school football coach, a nauseatingly rich family of local timber moguls, and a few civil contractors.

edited 3rd Jul '13 12:44:38 AM by Pykrete

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#57585: Jul 3rd 2013 at 1:51:51 AM

The problem with Switzerland is that if Snowden has to get there to make the request, how is he going to get there? We've already seen that France is willing to block presidential flights on the chance that they have him on board. If Switzerland's other neighbours do the same thing than Snowden is going to have a hard time getting to Switzerland to put in an application, he'd probably have to travel overland, which means somehow sneaking past EU border security.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Euodiachloris Since: Oct, 2010
#57587: Jul 3rd 2013 at 4:21:14 AM

[up][up]<ponders> Does a Swiss Embassy count enough as "Swiss soil"? And, a Swissair ticket should be purchasable... The problem of border-crossing, however, still remains — depending on where the other end is. tongue

edited 3rd Jul '13 4:23:41 AM by Euodiachloris

TheBatPencil from Glasgow, Scotland Since: May, 2011 Relationship Status: I'm just a hunk-a, hunk-a burnin' love
#57588: Jul 3rd 2013 at 6:35:30 AM

[up][up][up] Ratlines? tongue

And let us pray that come it may (As come it will for a' that)
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57589: Jul 3rd 2013 at 7:34:59 AM

State Department Spent $630,000 Buying Facebook Likes

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#57590: Jul 3rd 2013 at 8:15:47 AM

[up] I agree with Gizmodo. Why do they even need any likes?

SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#57591: Jul 3rd 2013 at 8:33:58 AM

For PR reasons.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#57592: Jul 3rd 2013 at 8:53:45 AM

Ted Nugent ‘Thinking About’ Running For President

I have no words.

edited 3rd Jul '13 9:02:19 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
theweirdKiddokun What a Wonderful World! from Last Place in the Race Since: Jun, 2012 Relationship Status: Maxing my social links
What a Wonderful World!
#57594: Jul 3rd 2013 at 8:58:06 AM

Only if you feel shame.tongue

The Reaper Games starts anew.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#57595: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:11:23 AM

What is this story about the employer mandate about, anyway? Looking over the sources it seems to be a only-so-much important component and no more of a "huge setback" than the whole "trainwreck" metaphor was an accurate usage of metaphors.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#57596: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:27:32 AM

[up]

You mean the mandate for employers to buy health insurance for their employees?

It cuts into their profits by forcing them to actually spend more than minimum wage on employees. therefore iyts a horrible attack on their bottom line.

Zendervai Since: Oct, 2009
#57597: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:30:59 AM

I just think that if you can't afford to pay your employees a living wage, you're not running your company very well.

midgetsnowman Since: Jan, 2010
#57598: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:35:31 AM

[up]

Well, corporate america would disagree with you in that most of it (especially shareholders) thinks your company is only running well if you're making more and more money at any cost every quarter.

which means if the shareholders feel you're not making them enough money via cutthroat, theyll fire you and put someone else in.

edited 3rd Jul '13 9:36:15 AM by midgetsnowman

Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#57599: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:35:46 AM

It's an attempt to shift back some of the emphasis on profits over wages. As such, it is terribly unwelcome among business owners.

edited 3rd Jul '13 9:35:58 AM by Fighteer

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
Barkey Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#57600: Jul 3rd 2013 at 9:45:52 AM

Orlando is one of the most pedestrian-unfriendly cities in the country. A lot of people do that because they literally have no other option for crossing the street on foot. It was on the news for a few weeks a while ago when the report initially came out (though it's been swamped by 24-hour Zimmerman trial coverage recently).

This was on Alafaya, by UCF, it was really fucking obnoxious seeing people step out in front of me on the road.


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