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Is Switzerland producing anything like SpaceX? Or Google? Or Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Tesla, Stripe, Y Combinator? More importantly, would we have produced thes

by Reedx 7y ago

Is Switzerland producing anything like SpaceX? Or Google? Or Apple, Amazon, Netflix, Tesla, Stripe, Y Combinator? More importantly, would we have produced these with their system? If so, then great, but let's see the evidence. No problem to have a work culture preference, and things could definitely be improved(!!), but I think we're kidding ourselves that there are no tradeoffs and everything would simply be better. And that we'd still have the same rate of innovation. Also a lot of people like that stores are open on Sundays.

JBorrow 7y ago
The US has a population 40 times higher, that's not really a fair comparison. Also: Nestle, Logitech? Just because they don't have shiny frontmen doesn't mean they aren't worthy. Google also has a large AI research department in Switzerland.
- SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
  Switzerland is the population of New Jersey over twice the size. It’s crazy how people don’t have any sense of scale on these things.
- masonic 7y ago
  You might want to bear Nestle's corporate ethics in mind before touting them as something to be proud of.
  - JBorrow 7y ago
    Ah yes, Google and SpaceX are well known for their impeccable corporate ethics
jpttsn 7y ago
Switzerland is home to many successful businesses and products.
pjmlp 7y ago
So what? How does the average American profit from their existence on their daily lives?
- geodel 7y ago
  Well if average American or for that matter anyone does not gain anything from Google, Amazon, Apple etc then it would be reasonable to say no one really gains from technological progress.
  - pjmlp 7y ago
    As if they are the only bearers of progress. Not to mention that not all kinds of progress are good to mankind.
- Reedx 7y ago
  You probably typed that question using the fruits of one or more of these companies. Maybe you Google'd something just before that. You've probably saved time and money with Amazon. Everyone benefits from Tesla advancing electric vehicles and sustainable energy. It goes on and on.
  - komali2 7y ago
    That doesn't mean something similar couldn't exist without America's hyper-capitalist model. IMO the most valuable websites on the internet could have been created without a profit motive, like Wikipedia. If an American hadn't invented it, someone else would have, and hackers would have indexed it for a searching one way or the other. There's little evidence that the American work culture being lambasted by social progressives actually contributes any benefits to the world.
  - pjmlp 7y ago
    Using Firefox here. Google is not the first search engine, nor it will be the last. Plenty of other options available.
izacus 7y ago
Nestle, Novartis and Roche can easily compare to the companies you mentioned. Especially since they deal with healthcare and food supply which might be even more important than PR heavy billionare projects of throwing cars in the orbit. I'm also pretty sure that average american has a lot to gain from existence of Apple when they can't pay off their college loans and medical bills. Or go on a proper vacation.
boudin 7y ago
After moving from a small city in France to London, I definitely miss Sundays with all store being closed. It's a good break. Why Switzerland would need a SpaceX, Apple and Google? For the last 2 I would be happier if they wouldn't exists, having more of those would be quite bad :D
sorokod 7y ago
and Facebook?
mattlondon 7y ago
I'd say Switzerland is not unique in this respect - you could switch pretty-much any European country in there and it would be the same deal: 25+ days vacation a year (plus 8 or more public holidays), 37-40 hour working week, universal healthcare, decent public transport. Just a few comparisons for European equivalents off of the top of my head (there may be better/more well-known): SpaceX: Ariane Space Google: Rocket Internet Apple: Arm

by Reedx 7y ago

JBorrow 7y ago

The US has a population 40 times higher, that's not really a fair comparison. Also: Nestle, Logitech? Just because they don't have shiny frontmen doesn't mean they aren't worthy. Google also has a large AI research department in Switzerland.

SlowRobotAhead 7y ago
Switzerland is the population of New Jersey over twice the size. It’s crazy how people don’t have any sense of scale on these things.
masonic 7y ago
You might want to bear Nestle's corporate ethics in mind before touting them as something to be proud of.
- JBorrow 7y ago
  Ah yes, Google and SpaceX are well known for their impeccable corporate ethics

jpttsn 7y ago

Switzerland is home to many successful businesses and products.

pjmlp 7y ago

So what? How does the average American profit from their existence on their daily lives?

geodel 7y ago
Well if average American or for that matter anyone does not gain anything from Google, Amazon, Apple etc then it would be reasonable to say no one really gains from technological progress.
- pjmlp 7y ago
  As if they are the only bearers of progress. Not to mention that not all kinds of progress are good to mankind.
Reedx 7y ago
You probably typed that question using the fruits of one or more of these companies. Maybe you Google'd something just before that. You've probably saved time and money with Amazon. Everyone benefits from Tesla advancing electric vehicles and sustainable energy. It goes on and on.
- komali2 7y ago
  That doesn't mean something similar couldn't exist without America's hyper-capitalist model. IMO the most valuable websites on the internet could have been created without a profit motive, like Wikipedia. If an American hadn't invented it, someone else would have, and hackers would have indexed it for a searching one way or the other. There's little evidence that the American work culture being lambasted by social progressives actually contributes any benefits to the world.
- pjmlp 7y ago
  Using Firefox here. Google is not the first search engine, nor it will be the last. Plenty of other options available.

izacus 7y ago

Nestle, Novartis and Roche can easily compare to the companies you mentioned. Especially since they deal with healthcare and food supply which might be even more important than PR heavy billionare projects of throwing cars in the orbit. I'm also pretty sure that average american has a lot to gain from existence of Apple when they can't pay off their college loans and medical bills. Or go on a proper vacation.

boudin 7y ago

After moving from a small city in France to London, I definitely miss Sundays with all store being closed. It's a good break. Why Switzerland would need a SpaceX, Apple and Google? For the last 2 I would be happier if they wouldn't exists, having more of those would be quite bad :D

sorokod 7y ago

and Facebook?

mattlondon 7y ago

I'd say Switzerland is not unique in this respect - you could switch pretty-much any European country in there and it would be the same deal: 25+ days vacation a year (plus 8 or more public holidays), 37-40 hour working week, universal healthcare, decent public transport. Just a few comparisons for European equivalents off of the top of my head (there may be better/more well-known): SpaceX: Ariane Space Google: Rocket Internet Apple: Arm