From a classical liberal perspective, Switzerland's governance seems utopian. Low taxes, good services even for low income people despite the low taxes, very decentralized government, and it really does seem true that "no one bothers to know who the president is".

My big question: what's the catch?

Like, what stops every other country from adopting a Swiss-style political system?

(This is not a rhetorical question, I'm actually curious)

Seems like an obvious statement (specially because it has been stated by people who are actually qualified to do so - unlike me) but geography - or more precisely - geopolitics of Switzerland are quite unique.

product/design/UX exploring web3 🌐 nf.td/mario — ~sigmes-modfyn

To me the swiss and their neighbors have always found ways to keep this status quo (mostly) mutually beneficial. And projecting from those neighbors to other countries around the world: the world have found swiss perceived neutrality mutually beneficial.

@vitalik.eth Turning your question around: why didn't the swiss (throughout the centuries) opt to be absorbed by their neighbors specifically those that shared language and culture?