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0 pointsrsync8y ago0 comments

"I live in the U.S., but I think I'd prefer to live in one of the countries for losers."

... from the article:

"Here is the list of the world’s top Loser Countries: (.nl, .de, .ch, .no, .dk)"

As someone who travels to these countries frequently (rsync.net has a Zurich location) I can certainly get on board with the desire to move to Switzerland. It is a nicer country than the US.

However, it is a ridiculous notion that the social success of these countries (and of Japan, which is conspicuously absent from that list) is due simply to some bad legislation here or there ... just a few technocratic choices made the wrong way.

In reality, the reason things are so nice in Switzerland and Norway and Japan are because they have extremely homogenous populations and cultural legacies.

It's easy to expand your circle of empathy to people whose names are also Lars Larson[1], just like yours is.

They didn't invent jazz, though ...

[1] Or Hiro Tanaka.

0 comments

workthrowaway278y ago

This is absolutely true, and obvious to anyone open-minded who has spent time in those countries, but good luck trying to have any discussion about the downsides of immigration in the US without getting shouted down as a racist.

ZeroGravitas8y ago

Unless your volunteering to deport your own ethic group to increase homogeneity (which you're obviously not) then you're probably advocating for the textbook definition of racism.

Which may explain why you can't say that without being called a racist.

Also, I'm not sure the facts back you up. Is the USA really more diverse than Canada? Is the UK really more diverse than Germany?

workthrowaway278y ago

I didn't say anyone should be deported. I said immigration has downsides and you can't talk about it openly in the US.

TheCoelacanth8y ago

Switzerland is hardly homogeneous. 29% of residents are foreign born, which is one of the highest in the developed world (double that of the US). It has four main languages with the largest of those only being the first choice for 60% of the population. If anything it is less homogeneous than the US.

nathanasmith8y ago

>Switzerland is hardly homogeneous. 29% of residents are foreign born. If anything it is less homogeneous than the US.

85% of those "foreigners" are your fellow Europeans. It would be like me saying Florida is less homogeneous because some people from Utah moved there. Except Utah is further away from Florida than any country in Europe is from any other. Switzerland is quite homogeneous.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsrsync8y ago0 comments

"I live in the U.S., but I think I'd prefer to live in one of the countries for losers."

... from the article:

"Here is the list of the world’s top Loser Countries: (.nl, .de, .ch, .no, .dk)"

As someone who travels to these countries frequently (rsync.net has a Zurich location) I can certainly get on board with the desire to move to Switzerland. It is a nicer country than the US.

In reality, the reason things are so nice in Switzerland and Norway and Japan are because they have extremely homogenous populations and cultural legacies.

It's easy to expand your circle of empathy to people whose names are also Lars Larson[1], just like yours is.

They didn't invent jazz, though ...

[1] Or Hiro Tanaka.

0 comments

workthrowaway278y ago

ZeroGravitas8y ago

Unless your volunteering to deport your own ethic group to increase homogeneity (which you're obviously not) then you're probably advocating for the textbook definition of racism.

Which may explain why you can't say that without being called a racist.

Also, I'm not sure the facts back you up. Is the USA really more diverse than Canada? Is the UK really more diverse than Germany?

workthrowaway278y ago

I didn't say anyone should be deported. I said immigration has downsides and you can't talk about it openly in the US.

TheCoelacanth8y ago

nathanasmith8y ago

>Switzerland is hardly homogeneous. 29% of residents are foreign born. If anything it is less homogeneous than the US.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse