CNN

Extreme Swiss Inequality Reforms

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Extreme Swiss Inequality Reforms

President Obama recently stated that inequality is a “defining challenge” for the United States. Meanwhile, Fareed Zakaria reported that Switzerland, a country with significantly less inequality than the US, considered radical reforms to reduce inequality, including capping executive compensation.  

Here is the beginning of the segment from Fareed Zarakia GPS: 

If there’s one country in the world that looks like a utopia, its name must be Switzerland. This is a country that has it all. The average income is $82,000 a year – 65 percent more than the average American income. Everyone has great healthcare, childcare, and education. The unemployment rate is 3 percent. There is almost no corruption. According to the OECD, of 34 developed countries surveyed, the Swiss have the greatest degree of trust in their government. And, of course, it is a spectacular country with great traditions of skiing, cheese, chocolate, and wine.

 

What could possibly go wrong? Well, quite a lot, actually.

The Swiss are furious about income inequality. The story is a familiar one. According to Reuters, in 1984 top earners in Swiss firms made 6 times as much as the bottom earners. Today, they make 43-times what bottom earners make. At some banks and firms, CEOs make 200-times the salary of the lowest-paid employee.

 

Now, before you assume things about Europe and European attitudes towards capitalism, remember that Switzerland is one of the most business-friendly countries in the world. The conservative Heritage Foundation has an “Index of Economic Freedom.” Switzerland ranks 5th in the world, well ahead of the United States of America.

 

But in the aftermath of the financial crisis, the Swiss have become far more concerned about the nature of today’s free market system. So, some Swiss political groups came up with a plan. It’s called the 1 is to 12 initiative. The highest-paid company executive should make a maximum of 12 times what the lowest-paid employee makes. In other words, no one should earn more in one month than someone else makes in a year.

Fareed Zakaria: Why No One Is Thankful For The Federal Government

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Fareed Zakaria: Why No One Is Thankful For The Federal Government

The most recent episode of Fareed Zakaria GPS began with “Fareed’s Take” on trust in government, particularly the federal government.  Zakaria diagnoses the systemic and political causes for the near historic lows in confidence in the federal government and discusses solutions.  

Here is a brief description of the segment: 

Fareed Zakaria explains why Americans have reason not to be grateful for federal government this Thanksgiving.

Sunday Funday: “Britney Spears vs Somali pirates?”

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Sunday Funday: “Britney Spears vs Somali pirates?”

There was a story this week about how Britney Spears’ songs are being played to deter Somali pirates attacks, and two “words” came to mind: Sunday Funday.  CNN’s Fareed Zakaria discussed this important development on his Sunday show Fareed Zakaria GPS. Here is how the segment began:

The U.N. has released a report suggesting that piracy off the coast of Somalia has dropped to the lowest level in seven years. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon credited the decline to improving international policing and prosecution as well as better security and information sharing.

One Scottish merchant Navy officer reported last week that there might be additional reasons for the drop – Britney Spears. The officer told a U.K. paper that blasting songs like Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” and “Oops, I Did It Again,” is effective in deterring approaching pirates.

For more public policy related video/audio, be sure to check out the SLACE Archive.

Sunday Funday: “Britney Spears vs Somali pirates?”

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Sunday Funday: “Britney Spears vs Somali pirates?”

There was a story this week about how Britney Spears’ songs are being played to deter Somali pirates attacks, and two “words” came to mind: Sunday Funday.  CNN’s Fareed Zakaria discussed this important development on his Sunday show Fareed Zakaria GPS. Here is how the segment began: 

The U.N. has released a report suggesting that piracy off the coast of Somalia has dropped to the lowest level in seven years. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon credited the decline to improving international policing and prosecution as well as better security and information sharing.

One Scottish merchant Navy officer reported last week that there might be additional reasons for the drop – Britney Spears. The officer told a U.K. paper that blasting songs like Britney Spears’ “Hit Me Baby One More Time” and “Oops, I Did It Again,” is effective in deterring approaching pirates.

Smart Takes on the NSA Scandal

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

Smart Takes on the NSA Scandal

The first half of this last Sunday’s Fareed Zarakia GPS discussed the fall out from the NSA spying scandal. 

First, Fareed gave his “take” on the issue. 

Next, he interviewed Former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg who made news by stating, “Well, everyone spies on each other.  That’s a fact.  And, at the moment, we hear interesting voices (inaudible) tries to deny that we don’t do it and they do it.  Everybody does it.”  This is essentially the point Dave Kailer made more than a week earlier on the SLACE Forum. 

Finally, Fareed spoke with Former NSA and CIA chief Michael Hayden. Hayden also made news by stating, “If the president says he didn’t know, he didn’t know. I just take that at face value.”

Here is a description of the show: 

On GPS this Sunday: The revelations over alleged tapping of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s cell phone by the U.S. National Security Agency have strained relations between the two nations. But how serious are the current tensions? Fareed speaks with former German Defense Minister Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg.

Next, the American side of the story. Who would have given the NSA permission to spy on leaders of ally countries? Former NSA and CIA chief Michael Hayden gives his take.

“[O]ccasionally, what you have is political guidance kind of being placed on top of your operational planning,” Hayden says. “I had political guidance while I was director of NSA.  I had targets. I had legitimate needs. But I was told, frankly, back off. That target is too sensitive. I don’t want you doing that at this time, for this purpose.”