"The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few..." Not the last words of Spock, but certainly one of his pearls of logic. That's the first observation I have made about living in Switzerland. We've watched a woman leave her purse on the seat, while going to serve her plate in a restaurant... for about 10 minutes unattended. We've seen rental scooters sprinkled throughout the cities, intact, and left ready for the next person. They vote on literally everything, including whether or not their military can purchase the latest high priced jet. Referendums happen regularly. On the bus or tram or train, it is custom to surrender your seat to an elderly person. Being polite is a strong component of their value system. If you lose or leave something, there is a very good chance it will be right where you left it - for however long it takes. The honor system is very strong in Switzerland. There is order. The order seems to put to rest the "chaos" going on in the world. Corporations do not always hold the upper hand. Sundays, businesses are not allowed to open, with few exceptions, in order for employees to have personal time with their familes. Sunday is also a "quiet day." The quiet on Sundays is really quite a mental rest. Personal accountability and integrity seem to be held in high regard. Someone said to me recently "... but it's a small country." True - 8 million people. So, let's start with a state in the US...
