Governments in any nation - France deefinitely not excluded - are self-serving and following the wishes of the rich, but the common French people have always had balls!

You know that their Asian neighbours also have low birth rates, right? Then it’s simply shifting the issue to another area.

Really depends on the society. South Korea, for example, is definitely genuinely threatened by its way too sharp decline - including culturally. Otherwise I agree that negative effects are generally overexaggerated and that the future will inevitably demand less human labour.

It’s not that I don’t understand your argument, or sympathise with prioritising EU products, it’s just quite a far reach to claim that Switzerland is “not a real country”. I’d choose a Swiss company over a Hungarian one - so EU membership isn’t the only determinant.

The way forward, imo, is full EU integration - also for Switzerland - but even with Trump threatning us too this is too far a reach from happening…

So, I’ll welcome products from any European country that generally cares about data protection, neutrality, and a non-American future.

That adds a bit more context to your stance, although it’s quite narrowminded imo.

Europe is filled with tax havens from Monaco to Andorra to Ireland to the Netherlands to Luxembourg, and British overseas territories. It’s not only a Swiss sport to have unfair tax systems. Other current EU members have traditionally been neutral such as Sweden, Finland (although forced), Austria etc…

Then talking about “taxes to the EU community” and mentioning Germany in a reality where German fiscal policies have dictated those of most everyone else - until they now decide it benefits them to change their own - German policies towards Russian energy, Meloni’s flirtation with dictators and fascism, Spanish friendship with China, and increasing anti-EU and anti-Ukraine sentiment in most countries.

Now tell me why I should have a particularly hard stance on Switzerland? Choosing EU companies first is completely fair, but don’t justify it with some holier-than-thou attitude.

All countries are “made up”… modern Italy was fully unified in 1870 and Germany in 1871.

What is a real European country in your opinion?