THIS is an immigration procedure...

More Swiss goodness.

Lefties HATE democracy. When the dumb old people make the wrong choice, the answer is to take the people's authority away.

" “The Milovanovics have met all the legal requirements for citizenship: They have paid 1,000 francs for their application to be considered, they have been interviewed by the local council, they have passed German tests, and demonstrated their understanding of the Swiss way of life. But now they have to convince Emmen's 10,000 voters. "

Have to fisk this one, my cracks are italic.

But all this is not enough: The local political parties in Emmen have been holding meetings so that voters can ask the applicants questions.

The Milovanovics answer everything patiently, meekly, with great courtesy.

As I would be happy to do, if I were asking to be given the priviledge of citizenship.

But why submit to such a humiliating public examination?

Um, because they want to be citizens and are happy to show themselves to their new neighbors?

"Well, if it has to be, it has to be,'" she says. "We'll just put up with it." Where is the outrage?!?! Doesn't she understand that she is a VICTIM with a GRIEVANCE?!?!

Locals' whims

This is the lefty world view in two words. When it's a decision we agree with, it's the sovereign majesty of the people's will expressed through the sole legitimate test of democracy. When we disagree, they are "locals" with "whims".

There is good reason for her stoicism; last year when Emmen voted on applications for nationality, 48 out of a total of 56 were rejected. Not a single person from the Balkans was accepted.

Well, Ms. Foulkes, let them come live in your house.


It is democracy gone sour, a way to express prejudice, and punish innocent people.

No, it's democracy with a result you don't like. I don't suspect that you thought the British pistol ban was democracy gone sour or a way to punish innocent people.

After watching the goings on in Emmen with increasing unease, I asked a Swiss friend whether it would not be better to take the whole nationality issue away from the local communities and make the decision anonymously at federal level. He too is repelled by the prejudices expressed in Emmen, but he looks at me in surprise.

"That could never happen in Switzerland. The people always have the final say," he said.

If only everyone reacted with surprise to the idea of surrendering his sovreiginty to a faceless, uncontrolled bureaucrat. THAT IS A FREE MAN SPEAKING, Ms. Foulkes.

But because in theory it is democracy, no one, it seems, wants to challenge it.

No, this is GENUINE PRACTICAL democracy. Where is the theory part?

"People would vote the same way in your country if they could," said one Swiss friend.

I am sure many would, but they do not have the right to, and quite frankly after watching the ordeal of the Milovanovics I think I prefer a more limited democracy.

That is to say, not democracy.

The irony of the whole miserable Emmen episode is that if the Milovanovic family's application for citizenship is rejected, they will still live permanently in Switzerland, doing the same jobs, going to the same schools and visiting the same shops.

They seem just fine with that deal. I certainly would be.

But they will be doing it all in the knowledge that for some reason their neighbours did not think they were good enough to be Swiss, and worthy enough to vote alongside them.

An important supplement to the lefty creed. I live in the smallest pokiest house in the best neighbourhood in town. I have never been invited into most of those fine houses. I don't demand or care to be, and that doesn't bother me. They don't have to have a reason, as I don't have to justify whom I have visit me. But that won't do for the lefty. Look at the big house, look at the little house. RESENT.