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It also helps that they are a small country. Like Norway, or Denmark, or even, potentially, like Scotland. Or Vermont (which nearly became independent, in about 1800, and still sort of is.)

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It may be that smaller States tend towards rural so their social groupings are more determined by geography. So they're more matched to the size of a cohesive human social network (a few hundred individuals).

Also their thinking may be more 'down to earth' than the metropolitans' from whose ranks our leaderships are drawn.

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I do feel that the essential positive of the Swiss system is small is beautiful, to coin a phrase. The commune, the canton, the referenda.

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