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Comment by ohsnap | Hacker News Reader

Switzerland is the world's most successful parasite. So it's hard to recreate their 'success' unless you have lots of host countries to feed from

https://wikileaks.org/wiki/Switzerland:_A_parasite_feeding_o...

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When private interest does this, and they do it commonly, it's not a problem -- that wealth is privitized... but when a country does it and benefits its citizens it's a big deal.

The nordic countries have similar quality of life. Granted, a bit less purchasing power and much higher taxes, but even better work/life deal (longer holidays, more parental leave) etc. And apart from norway it's not oil. And none is a parasite I think.

I guess we all have different definitions of "quality of life". IMHO, the salary may be very high in the nordic countries, but with the weather the have, I wouldn't consider that a high quality of life.

That is true. I specifically meant work/life balance. Where life is considered life even with 1h daylight and -20C outside (and I agree that might be stretching it).

You don't have to live in the polar circle to enjoy Scandinavian laws...

Yes your correct, nordic countries have achieved a very high standard of living without 300 years of government supported racketeering, money laundering etc. Unfortunately, anything Switzerland brings out my ill tempered side.

That logic applies to anybody who has somebody below them who's poorer (so, everybody).

The richer guy simply dominates the poorer guy. This logic applies on any scale - person, city, country, continent, social class... People like Jesus were against this system (and personally, I'd abolish this system in a heartbeat if I could).

Most of the US financial industry is a parasite, yet I don't hear much complaining about that.

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