[Culturechat] Someone needs to sell these folks a bridge

[VCR]

  So, France isn't my favorite spot right now. Never has been, so their 
stance on the war only confirms my belief.

Anyway, several weeks ago I read that there is going to be a June 
meeting of the G 8 countries in Evian, France. This is from where that 
water comes. Evian is across Lake Geneva from Lausanne, but it is in 
France. France is a member of G 8, but CH is not. The article said that 
the French government had offered to give CH 18 million CHF to help with 
the cost of the G 8 meeting in Evian. The total bill for security 
arrangements is going to be about 40 million CHF. With me so far?

This means that CH will be hit with a bill for about 22 million CHF for 
security arrangements for a meeting on French soil, and they can't even 
go to the meeting!!! Well, I didn't believe it. I checked with my 
friend, Herr Britschgi, and we discussed it. His response was a bit of a 
surprise. He was somewhat sheepish and gave a couple of reasons. One, 
the head of the CH military is an air force guy who wants to show his 
new jets off. Two, the Swiss are afraid that there will be 
demonstrations in CH against the G 8. I then asked my friend, Albert, 
who is a politically savvy guy the same questions. I got an almost 
identical response and an admission that these were the best reasons he 
could see too.  At previous G 8 meetings, there have been upwards of a 
half million folks show up to protest against one thing or another.

The fact that Evian is a relatively isolated area was thought to make it 
a hard place for demonstrators to come. The fact that it is close to 
Geneva and only across the lake from Lausanne entered into the security 
concerns of CH. Now the kantons of Geneva, Waadt, and Wallis along the 
lake have asked for other kantons to furnish about 1400 police to add to 
a total of about 30,000 police people to add security. In addition, 
there will be a small plane ban over the lake and shores, there will be 
a ban on boat traffic, there will be about 5600 soldiers along the 
shores, and the sky will be patrolled by the CH military.

I can't see the French too worried. They are, in a magnanimous gesture, 
going to chip in less than half the cost. Well, whoop de doo! I get to 
pay CH taxes, and I ain't a bit happy about subsidizing this French tea 
party. Furthermore, I just can't believe in this land of referendums and 
people's initiatives, that the population is going to put up with this. 
Evidently, they are, and it is blamed on apathy. I am not a bit apathetic.

Look at this way. Your neighbor comes over and says he is going to have 
a party. It is at his house, but he wants you to pay for over half of 
it. Oh, by the way, you can't come, and you can't influence who does 
come. He does want your kids to park and watch cars (free of course). 
How long would it take you to get up off the floor laughing?

I hope that I don't understand this, but my Swiss friends confirm it. If 
anyone (Wes Texas are you listening?) can help me to see the rationale 
of this, please do this.

Otherwise, lets get up a consortium, go to Bern, and sell the government 
tickets to a Snipe hunt. They should love that. If anything, one has to 
give the Chriacians great credit for being able not to laugh out loud at CH.

-- 
Vance Roy
gigli.saw@dplanet.ch

Autopsy, burn, and bury, you want to be sure.
Winston Churchill on hearing of the death of a political opponent.