For headline, picking this little rhyme from President’s anniversary speech. Which begs some explanation. Namely: Eiffel Tower being built in honour of 100th jubilee of French Revolution. In five years, Republic of Estonia is 100 years old – and many may be racking their brains over how to celebrate it real grand. It would come as no surprise if ideas pop up about buildings or something unpractical and monumentally hollow.
In his speech, Toomas Hendrik Ilves offered a kind of an advice. For verily, our world is teeming with pompous anniversary buildings. And we do know that states are having a nightmare maintaining them – for all have no such marvellous fate as Eiffel.
As underlined by debt crisis, nations and states do have to choose – what’s worth the toil and what isn’t. A timely «no» to things superfluous gives us strength for a «yes» to things really needed, helpful to one and all.
To President’s picture of limits – ageing population, move towards EU net contributor status – a lot could be added. Nothing unique here, really. How do we reconcile the worsening ratio of tax payers and those supported by them? How do we use external aid to lay a foundation for sustainable development, avoiding aid-addiction? These questions are faced by many a society. Should we find good and prudent means of maintaining the state, the President may be right in believing that the «metaphorical tower will shine far with its innovation and wit, wisdom, and a tone both warm, well-balanced and workable». In today’s world, encouraging examples are sadly scarce.
Jüri Raidla, public figure and lawyer, has for years argued for state maintenance reform. In competition of states, being small grants no extra points, he loves to repeat. Thus the smallness ought to focus us on what’s essential – no more systemic waste in keeping the state.
And indeed, the Eiffel metaphor’s quite good to paint a picture of a goal. As it served to represent industrial age’s new and effective ways to build robust railway bridges over rivers and valleys. Estonia (and many others) verily need elegantly austere structures – helping us over valleys ahead.