The thing about Direct Democracy - the Swiss vote no

[malaise]

on severe immigration cuts
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-30267042
<snip>
Voters in Switzerland have decisively rejected a proposal to cut net immigration to no more than 0.2% of the population.

The country's 26 cantons rejected the proposal, with about 74% of people voting no in Sunday's referendum.

Supporters of the measure argued that it would have reduced pressure on the country's resources. Opponents said it would have been bad for the economy.

Around a quarter of Switzerland's eight million people are foreigners.

The measure would have required the government to reduce immigration from about 80,000 to 16,000 people a year.

[Sweeney]

1. Are the Swiss like the Germans

If you are not born in Germany of German parents you will not be a citizen ever as I understand it.

[malaise]

3. That's not true

although naturalization takes a while

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/becoming-a-citizen/29288376

[madville]

2. I want to see how they vote next year

On the minimum/basic/guaranteed income welfare reform referendum issue.

Wasn't it like $2800 a month guaranteed to every adult.

[tularetom]

4. My grandmother was born in Switzerland, she had an Italian surname and spoke German

Due to its location, Switzerland has been sort of a melting pot for generations.

In the recent World Cup, it seemed to me that the Swiss team had a lot of members with east European or Middle Eastern sounding names, yet most were Swiss natives.

[malaise]

5. Yes indeed

melting pot is a good phrase. I know persons with Jamaican parents who have Swiss citizenship.