[thwd]

Even though you're right that most laws are passed by the chambers, the people still have the power to put them up for voting (or put a second law up for voting that invalidates the first) by just gathering a couple of thousand signatures. In that sense the people really do have the final word in legislative matters.

Obviously swiss people are not born smarter than the rest of the world, but the education standard is quite okay and even though populism exists (as everywhere), Switzerland is doing better than any of it's neighbors right now, thanks to the decisions that the people have made.

The child-slavery thing is a black stain in our history, and we're aware. You can stop throwing rocks down from your glass house now.