[SashaLionx]

Just to clarify an earlier remark, Switzerland is not a Euro Zone country.

Also, if Bachman's children wanted to work in Switzerland there was no need for their mother to divide her allegiance.

[maclaudser]

Besides the fact that its published by the Heritage Foundation what do you know about their criteria for ranking "economic freedom"? They also put Canada with its single-payer model above the US for economic freedom as well.

Clearly the Heritage Foundation and you don't have as much of a problem with universal health care as some of us might have imagined.

Actually my info comes from the WSJ (I know who they teamed up with), Frasier, and Cato, as well as my dealings with people in the world of finance. For some odd reason the Swiss are consistently in the top 5 and we arent.

I'm more of a CATO guy than a heritage one. Thought you would be smart enough to figure that one out

[maclaudser]

Actually, this is the first time I got this detail and it makes it very interesting. Where as previously I thought it wasn't.

The key reason to get citizenship is so you can work legally in the Euro-zone.

Michele Bachman's children seem to sincerely believe they have better job prospects in the heart social-democratic, tax and spend Western Europe that Republicans always claim is the example Dems want to impose on America and kill jobs.

Her kids think they might have a chance for a better life in godless Western Europe.

Ummm, Switzerland is consistently in the top five, number 4 last year, in global economic freedom rankings

[Si8jy8HN]

They also have an extensive social support network, including a highly regulated health insurance market with subsidies for the poor. In a word, Obamacare.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/op...17krugman.html

[iuopyra]

Interesting, maybe she can help with the latest bank problems :

Geneva Bank Pictet Used in Offshore Tax Scheme, U.S. Says - Businessweek

and hopefully no visa regulations with the ongoing disputes about privatebanking..

US congresswoman Michele Bachmann gains Swiss citizenship- swissinfo





“My husband is a 100 per cent Swiss, and his parents were raised in Switzerland. They were married there, they came to the United States, they bought a farm in Wisconsin and raised their three sons there,” the Minnesota congresswoman told Swiss national television in Washington on Tuesday while with a group of Swiss parliamentarians

Unlike in the United States, Switzerland does not grant a child citizenship for being born on Swiss soil. A person is automatically Swiss if he or she is the child of married parents, at least one of whom is Swiss.

Foreigners married to a Swiss citizen or children of one Swiss parent (who do not yet have Swiss citizenship) living in Switzerland are eligible to apply for fast-track citizenship. The person must be well-integrated, law abiding and not endanger Switzerland’s external or internal security. Cantons and communes have no additional requirements that must be met but do reserve the right of appeal.

In this case, foreign spouses must have been married to a Swiss for at least three years and lived in Switzerland for a total of five years, including the year immediately prior to application.

[oneliRafmeene]

I lived in N. Ireland for over 10 years. Through my grandfather, I was eligible for Irish citizenship. When I approached the American Consulate in Belfast, they told me what I could do and what was frowned upon. I was not allowed to participate in a political party and something as small as voting in a local election could endanger my American ( born and bred) citizenship. I have no problem with someone holding dual citizenship, but as a Congresswoman she should decide where she stands. Yes, it may be a smart move , but even someone like me sees her as someone with divided loyalties.

[Si8jy8HN]

Switzerland's system approximates to that of the Netherlands with regulated private insurance companies competing to provide the minimum necessary coverage to meet its mandate. Premiums are not linked to incomes, but the government provides subsidies to lower-class individuals to help them pay for their plans. About 40% of households received some kind of subsidy in 2004. Individuals are free to spend as much as they want for their plans and buy additional health services if desired. The system has virtual universal coverage, with about 99% of people having insurance Health insurance mandate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sounds like a great vision for America to me, but surprised to hear it from you.

[DailyRingtone]

It is in the Eurozone , but it kept it's currency (who would give up the Swiss Franc... seriously !!)
It's flooded with all kind of nationalities ... they couldn't keep this Island of peace and paradise to themself anymore ..

yeahh the Schengen zone ...god I remember that law..

Still no. We'll make it easy. These are the countries in the eurozone:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain

I am pretty sure adopting the euro is a criteria, so you can't be in the eurozone, but kept your own currency.

[DailyRingtone]

BBC News - Eurozone migrants head to Switzerland

That doesn't mean they are part of the Eurozone. That is like saying if we remove border controls with Canada, we get to control their currency.

As Politburo pointed out, the Swiss and other european nations handled border control issues in Schengen, which was not part of the EU. The European Union incorporated the agreements into themselves after the face. (Schengen was signed in 1985.)

[Si8jy8HN]

Well this was a nothing story:

A three-term Republican, Mrs Bachmann went through the process with her family when some of her children wanted to become dual citizens. Actually, this is the first time I got this detail and it makes it very interesting. Where as previously I thought it wasn't.

The key reason to get citizenship is so you can work legally in the Euro-zone.

Michele Bachman's children seem to sincerely believe they have better job prospects in the heart social-democratic, tax and spend Western Europe that Republicans always claim is the example Dems want to impose on America and kill jobs.

Her kids think they might have a chance for a better life in godless Western Europe.

[FallJimerks]

That may be, but there are significantly big differences between Schengen and the European Union.

Right, and that's pretty much what seand was saying. Some would call this pedantic, but I'm frequently guilty of that myself, so.. carry on.

[Si8jy8HN]

In the context of my comment where I said specifically not on the currency but yes on free movement, you are sort of splitting hairs on a lazy turn of phrase. The point is if you are signing up for Swiss citizenship its probably to be able to work not just in Switzerland but all of Europe - which Swiss citizens can do.

You don't need to become a Swiss citizen to dump a bunch of your money into Swiss marcs but becoming a Swiss citizen is a ticket to working throughout the eurozone as well as Switzerland.

[Si8jy8HN]

There is no is and isn't. Switzerland is not in the Eurozone.

Although the Swiss said no to joining the European Union, they signed up to the EU's treaty on the free movement of people - meaning EU citizens have the right to go and work there without any restrictions. BBC News - Eurozone migrants head to Switzerland

[Si8jy8HN]

Besides the fact that its published by the Heritage Foundation what do you know about their criteria for ranking "economic freedom"? They also put Canada with its single-payer model above the US for economic freedom as well.

Clearly the Heritage Foundation and you don't have as much of a problem with universal health care as some of us might have imagined.

[C7JjVczP]

AFP: Ex-White House hopeful in U-turn on Swiss passport

well well,,if you are in politics you can't decide for yourself anymore ..

"Today, I sent a letter to the Swiss Consulate requesting withdrawal of my dual Swiss citizenship, which was conferred upon me by operation of Swiss law when I married my husband in 1978," the Minnesota congresswoman said in a statement.

"I took this action because I want to make it perfectly clear: I was born in America and I am a proud American citizen. I am, and always have been, 100 percent committed to our US Constitution and the United States of America.

Flip Flop, kick her to the curb.

[SashaLionx]

Well this was a nothing story:

Its very easy to be Swiss, all you need to be born to Swiss parents or marry a Swiss.

The story is she appears to have divided loyalties as a member of Congress and as a member of the Tea Party.

[iuopyra]

they did keep the Swiss franc currency , but you can also use the euro dollar ...

[iuopyra]

all in all...they made a smart decision !!

[Si8jy8HN]

So "economic freedom" is 100% compatible with a strong social support network, even socialized medicine that includes a version of the Individual Mandate far more punitive than ours. Good to know.

[Si8jy8HN]

But the rating is generated by the Heritage Foundation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Index_of_Economic_Freedom
http://www.heritage.org/index/default