Tag Archives: Politics

After a stalemate last week, Switzerland’s federal parliament and upper house found a way forward this week on the abolition of imputed rent that both houses could agree on, reported SRF. Photo by Thomas P on Pexels.comFor more than seven years, the National Council and the Council of States have been discussing how to do away with the imputed rent, which is an amount added to the taxable income of homeowners. Now, after a lot of back and forth, the two houses have finally agreed on a way...

Every year, the bank UBS publishes its Worry Barometer, a poll that ranks the greatest concerns among Swiss voters. This week, it released the results for 2024. This year’s top concerns are healthcare, environmental and climate protection and retirement provision. Photo by Marcus Aurelius on Pexels.comPolling for the survey conducted from mid-August to mid-September and included the views of 2,250 voters. The survey revealed a rise in financial concerns. Financial uncertainty and...

In 2022, Swiss voted to increase the official retirement age of women from 64 to 65, bringing it into line with the age for men. Later, an error was found in some of the numbers presented to voters to justify the change. After the error was revealed, the Socialist and Green parties asked Switzerland’s highest court to overturn the vote because of these erroneous figures. This week, the court rejected the complaint, reported RTS. Photo by Matthias Zomer on Pexels.comThe federal court’s...

Share this article DR. THORSTEN POLLEIT (WWW.BOOMBUSTREPORT.COM) INTERVIEWS CLAUDIO GRASS Thorsten Polleit (TP): On November 5, 2024, Donald J. Trump was elected the new U.S. president with a landslide victory. His declared goal is to take on the “Deep State” and its bureaucracy. His advisor, Elon Musk, is urging the reduction of national debt, and even the inflationary Federal Reserve (Fed) has become a target, described as an evil that must be healed. Is all...

Share this article DR. THORSTEN POLLEIT (WWW.BOOMBUSTREPORT.COM) INTERVIEWS CLAUDIO GRASS Thorsten Polleit (TP): On November 5, 2024, Donald J. Trump was elected the new U.S. president with a landslide victory. His declared goal is to take on the “Deep State” and its bureaucracy. His advisor, Elon Musk, is urging the reduction of national debt, and even the inflationary Federal Reserve (Fed) has become a target, described as an evil that must be healed. Is all this just early enthusiasm,...

On Thursday, Switzerland’s federal parliament accepted a budget for 2025 by 120 versus 73 votes, reported RTS. Opposing votes came from politicians on the left, who make up a large minority in Switzerland’s lower house. Photo by Louis on Pexels.comIncluded in the budget were an increase in military spending, cuts to farm subsidies and large cuts to international aid. Increases in state pensions, known as an extra 13th month, will go ahead as planned starting in 2026. Spending on...

Share this article Sir Halford Mackinder’s famous Heartland Theory was first formulated in the early 20th century, but it holds renewed relevance and importance today, especially when analyzed though a critical lens of the current geopolitical system, one that emphasizes individual freedom, limited government intervention, and skepticism of centralized power. Mackinder’s theory posits that control over the “Heartland” — roughly the region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia — grants...

Share this article Sir Halford Mackinder’s famous Heartland Theory was first formulated in the early 20th century, but it holds renewed relevance and importance today, especially when analyzed though a critical lens of the current geopolitical system, one that emphasizes individual freedom, limited government intervention, and skepticism of centralized power. Mackinder’s theory posits that control over the “Heartland” — roughly the region of Eastern Europe and...

Across much of the developed world, gender pay disparities all but disappear if comparisons are made like for like, looking at individuals doing the same function in the same company, according to Korn Ferry Hay Group research, which looked at 20 million salaries at 25,000 organizations in 100 nations. However, because of job and career differences women continue on average to earn less than men. Recent data published by Switzerland’s Federal Statistical Office (FSO) show this average pay...

Electric heat pumps have a lower carbon footprint than gas and oil heating systems. They are more energy efficient, and, when gas, coal and oil electricity generation are eventually phased out of the grid, they will be close to emission free. However, the number of heat pumps being installed in Switzerland is falling, and the number of new gas and oil heating systems is on the rise, according to a report by RTS. Photo by Heiko Ruth on Pexels.comSo far in 2024, Swiss homeowners have...