[soco]

Swiss insurance is definitely NOT private the way US understands it so let's not throw them in the mix as an argument for private insurance. It's run by private companies true, but the rules to run them are very strict, established by the state and revised periodically both by the state and by popular referendums. So, there's absolutely no free insurance market and I'm happy having it this way.

[sam_lowry_]

This actually is a good point. Capitalism and Socialism are broad labels that make little sense outside of scholastic arguments.

As a side note, I live in a wealthy European parliamentary monarchy with stellar press freedom ratings and an abysmal quality of press that makes me want to ignore all local news outright. Is there an -ism for that? Decadentism?

[soco]

No idea... The decreasing press/media quality gets often correlated to a decreasing education quality, can you see around you such a thing?

[sam_lowry_]

Nope. Education is on par with neighbors if not better. Quality of pre-school and primary education is great, secondary and tertiary are acceptable.

But... The only news-only FM radio that expanded from a nearby country was banned and replaced by a stub Catholic FM radio some 10 years ago. Politics is non-existent. Parties are melting pots of scrubs.

But we get by.

[refurb]

But the US insurance market isnt free either, they are heavily regulated in the US as well.