Some people just don’t get it. Why?
It’s the way you tell ’em.
Sunil Bajaria, London, UK
• Because they were never meant to.
R De Braganza, Kilifi, Kenya
• They’ve lost their mojo.
R M Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
• Because they think they already have it.
Jennifer Horat, Lengwil, Switzerland
• Get what?
Jennifer Rathbone, Toronto, Canada
• Because they don’t deserve it.
Michael Davis, Sydney, Australia
• Why? Should they?
Peter Rosier, Sydney, Australia
• Because there’s not enough to go round.
Jim Dewar, Gosford, NSW, Australia
• They can’t wait for the punchline.
David Tucker, Halle, Germany
• Because they’re immune.
Tom O’Brien, Liverpool, UK
Swiss know how it’s done
Where is the best example of a functioning democracy, and why?
If democracy may be defined at a local level, I would nominate Mondragon, the independent workers’ community in northern Spain. Despite the current economic crisis and the pressure from the capitalist market, executive pay is capped at eight times that of the lowest-paid worker and the pain of recession is borne by everyone.
Noel Bird, Boreen Point, Queensland, Australia
• Switzerland is the world’s only direct democracy, where the people have final say over government legislation and public initiatives at all levels of government through quarterly referendums. The result is stable, pragmatic and efficient government with tidy, clean cities, punctual public transport, low tax rates and generally wealthy and happy citizens.
A far cry from the Dante’s Inferno vision of direct democracy as propagated by the neoliberal press and political establishment.
Dave Harpur, Meggen, Switzerland
Just one of me is bad enough
Where are you when you are beside yourself?
In bad company.
Greg McCarry, Sydney, Australia
• Usually in stunned disbelief at the stupidity I’m witnessing.
Terence Rowell, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada
• An out-of-body experience.
Avril Nicholas, Crafers, South Australia
• Lunch with my doppelgänger.
Mike Dater, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, US
• In a world of your own.
Avril Taylor, Dundas, Ontario, Canada
• I’m not sure. But if you find me, please let me know where I was.
Donna Samoyloff, Toronto, Canada
• In my dreams at night.
Edward Black, Church Point, NSW, Australia
• In double trouble.
Charlie Bamforth, Davis, California, US
Try love to the power of two
What is real wealth?
Spare time, and energy with which to spend it.
Lorna Cahill, London, UK
• Love shared.
Richard Orlando, Westmount, Quebec, Canada
• The realisation that money cannot buy happiness.
Peter Sharpe, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Any answers?
Where have all the wallflowers gone?
RM Fransson, Wheat Ridge, Colorado, US
What’s the worst thing about being dead?
Edward Black, Pauanui, New Zealand
Send answers to weekly.nandq@theguardian.com or Guardian Weekly, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU, UK
