Are there actually any good Governments out there?

[stackmonkey]

Seriously?
I mean a country that is constantly in reasonable economics shape, low crime for the population size, good education, OK tax levels, decent, efficient welfare system, low poverty and corruption and few social ills?

Not asking for perfection here, just any country where the natives and resident immigrants are thinking, " you know, this a pretty good place to be and our government is actually pretty good"?

[Mc Lovin]

yes the Dutch

[spikeyhead]

Iraq, so long as you weren't pissing in the systems soup, prior to the shrub kicking Saddam's arse.

[Fittster]

The Swiss. Lots of local democracy and a policy of Non-interventionism. So peace and prosperity, what more could you want?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Switzerla...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-interventionism

[im]

Nigeria...

[Mr E]

"It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all the others that have been tried."
Sir Winston Churchill

Edited by Mr E on Monday 3rd November 16:51

[lawrence567]

Australia?

[oyster]

North Korea?

[SleeperCell]

Mc Lovin said:

yes the Dutch

I think they fail on the tax levels thing

[kambites]

Define "OK tax levels".

The Scandinavian countries consistently come top of the quality of life tables but I think they have some of the highest tax levels in the world.

[im]

kambites said:

Define "OK tax levels".

The Scandinavian countries consistently come top of the quality of life tables but I think they have some of the highest tax levels in the world.

Do you think there might be a correlation?

[Maxf]

I'd pay more tax if I felt I was getting value for money and the country was truly benefitting (and could live on the net wage).

[Yoshiwaan]

lawrence567 said:

Australia?

Nah, NZ maybe?

I'm Aussie and since I've taken notice of politics I've always envied the NZ government.

Edited by Yoshiwaan on Monday 3rd November 16:57

[Ganglandboss]

Fittster said:

The Swiss. Lots of local democracy and a policy of Non-interventionism. So peace and prosperity, what more could you want?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Switzerla...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-interventionism

Aren't the Swiss a bit anti-car though?

[tomTVR]

Isle of Man

[kambites]

im said:

kambites said:

Define "OK tax levels".

The Scandinavian countries consistently come top of the quality of life tables but I think they have some of the highest tax levels in the world.

Do you think there might be a correlation?

Certainly, although I don't think it's a direct cause and effect. I suspect both are the result other, less tangible, aspects of their society.

Raising taxes here wouldn't solve all (or probably any) of society's ills and lowering taxes there wouldn't cause them to fall into social deprivation, at least not in the short term.

Of course they are helped by low population density, copious natural resources, their tendency to avoid wars, the fact everyone likes them,...

Edited by kambites on Monday 3rd November 17:02

[threesixty]

Fittster said:

The Swiss. Lots of local democracy and a policy of Non-interventionism. So peace and prosperity, what more could you want?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politics_of_Switzerla...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-interventionism

Just a shame motor racing is banned there really.

[rude-boy]

tomTVR said:

Isle of Man

If they could stop being sheep...

[Simpo Two]

Yoshiwaan said:

Nah, NZ maybe?

I'm Aussie and since I've taken notice of politics I've always envied the NZ government.

But following the UKs bad example of creeping socialism I think, eg positive discrimination to Maoris, Samoans etc. I wouldn't qualify to live there but one reason that I'm not upset is that I think thatin 10 years time they'll bewhere we are now (only without the EU of course). In fact one great thing about NZ is that the EU is 12,000 miles away and counts for Jack Schitt - which means they have a fighting chance of running their country to suit their own interests and not somebody else's.