Switzerland-Minimum Wage

Like any other country Switzerland has its fair share of the lower class. With such movements going on all over the world for Occupy fighting for the lower classes ability to rise above adversity and succeed. Though I am not for personal hand outs of what someone worked hard for to those that have not, I am for equality in that chance- when your class can determine your ability to succeed in an already gravitational force holding you back.

Currently in Switzerland there is no minimum wage set, and when the basis on cost of living is set using minimum wage as its basis it makes you wonder what is the Switzerland Government using to establish this amount. Though when it comes time to set this amount, they must be careful not to set it to high, doing so would cause a whirl wind of inflation lowering the value and spending power of the Swiss Francs. They can observe and learn from other countries when they attempt to set their minimum wage amount. In the United States we have seen that raising minimum wage will hurt those who did not make minimum wage. For instance if minimum wage is $7 per hour and someone is making $8 per hour, unless both individuals get equal raises with an increase of the minimum wage the individual who was making $8 per hour loses spending power.

Recent years there was a difference between the employee and manger earned at maximum of 30 times more (in the United States that would be like an employee making $7 per hour and the Manager making $210 per hour-Wow!) more recently the difference has been more like the manager making 1,000 times more. (Same comparison value $7 per hour and $7000 per hour) this seems to be a little extreme. On average terms that would be an annual salary of $14,000,000 to $14,000.

Aimed at insuring everyone has a decent pay to live on, there is some opposition. Mostly from the managers who are more than living comfortably. Saying that different sectors have different needs, true but if that’s the case why do they make so much more? Is it that they are really worth that much more? It is said that an entertainment system is only as good as its weakest component. I.e. you may have a digital TV, blue ray player and a VCR. Well that system is only as good as the VCR. This also applies to an employee of a company; a company is a team and is only as good as there worst employee.

Where it is only in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and the Scandinavian countries that have not set up any form of minimum Wage- What is taking them so long, and why not? Though they may think this will hurt them, I feel that this would help to stabilize volatile markets in Europe and elsewhere in the world. Giving their employees better standard of living will increase the spending power of the employees and they would have the ability to buy more products on increasing Economic trend s for the rest of the world.

What is surprising to me, is the difference in pay between mangers and their employees, I mean WOW!!!! Talk about being full of yourself. This provides an insight in not only Switzerland but into the culture of human nature.  One of the seven sins, Greed, it amazes me the differences in pay between the classes and that there are people starving. I understand this is not the case for all people in Switzerland but unfortunately this article paints a greedy picture. Just like it was when I was in the Navy, we were no longer individuals and anytime one of us messed up it was all of us as a whole who were blamed. Instead of a report of Jon Smith got a DUI it was Navy Sailor gets DUI and the same when in a foreign country, and then we were Americans representing all of the country.

This article (Armando Mombelli, swissinfo.ch) can be read at:

http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss_news/Calls_for_a_minimum_wage_mount.html?cid=31977734

German Culture 1

The cultural aspect in the article was music – specifically, popular music.  Providing a peephole into society, music is the gateway into the hearts of its citizens, helping them get through their struggles by providing a much-needed escape or bringing them together through song. It is said that the eyes are the windows to the soul, but perhaps the ears are the path to the heart in music. No matter what “the hits” are the song is still a direct representation of its listener. If a song touches someone, then that speaks volumes of that person, given an insight into their hearts.

Comparatively to the United States the music scene is close with minor differences, some more obvious than others like language. Expecting there to be more differences in the types of music that are main stream in Germany, found it to be surprising.  How close the cultures through music are is surprising, there is a current rap star in Germany named Casper that seems to parallel a rap star in the United States named Eminem.

The cultural importance that music brings to the table in Germany is a strong foundation in the culture of Germany and everywhere else. Music is a common link between nations regardless of different cultures, providing the common ground. Through music perhaps we can all get along, even if just for a moment. 

This edition of Soundscape 100 was produced and hosted by Gavin Blackburn, edited by Rick Fulker and mixed by Irena Malcharczyc and can be read at:

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15511285,00.html

German Culture to me

German Culture:Christmas at Oma and Opa's:

This past Christmas I spent with my wife's family, being from Germany they're extremely rich in German Culture. Starting off the celebration was the instruments and vocal talents of the family. (Playing such instruments as Piano, Violin, and Clarinet.) Performing traditional Christmas Carols and Hymns as the family is brought together through music.
Following the music of the family, is the reading of the Christmas Story from the Bible; First Opa reads in German and then followed is one of the Grand kids reading the same passages in English.
Being the first year that I have had the pleasure to take part in the celebration with them, not only do I look forward to many more of them. But I hope to continue it with my family to install the tradition with my kids and any future ones my wife and I may have.

This differs from any American tradition I have seen or heard of, this reminds us of the reason for Christmas and not the materialistic season that Christmas has turned into.
Seeing that I am basing my thoughts on ones who came to this country from Germany. I hypothesis that the validity of my thoughts to be correct in dealing with German tradition. All though with this I also understand that with everything in dealing with humans and their culture and or beliefs, nothing is absolute. No matter what tradition we as Americans may have, nothing is absolute in all of the citizens of our country.
In comparison of the traditions in the United States and Germany culture,  one thing is true and that is nothing is. No matter where you go there will be many different traditions but none of them will be with all of that countries people. It is up to the individual families of a country to grab what traditions they want from the melting pot of life.