Why Estonians like to drown quietly?
20.06.2008, 09:40Vahur Koorits writes in Postimees that
everybody knows that Estonians prefer to drown quietly because it is so
humiliating to call for help.
This summer’s hot topic is inflation. Prices in Estonia have increased over
11 percent from last year, price of petrol is over 19 kroons a litre and the
main topic in garden parties is food and fuel prices, not property prices as
last year.
We get news from Europe where angry truck drivers or fish farmers are setting
up roadblocks and protesting on the streets against high fuel prices, demanding
prompt action from the governments. When you ask Estonians about high prices,
they mostly shrug, sigh, say it is out of their hands and keep quiet.
Perhaps Estonians keep quit because of liberal economics? One reason why
prices have gone up so rapidly in Estonia is that the government has been
raising excise duties. This is better than lowering the duties since the main
problem is not taxes, but lack of production capacity.
If we cut excise duties it could temporarily bring down fuel and food prices,
but production levels will stay the same or fall and Estonians will lose
motivation to consumer less. As a result, in a few years the prices will be as
high as today, the state has lost its tax revenue and cannot increase taxes
again.
The only way out of the raising fuel and food prices is to eat less and walk
more. This will help you save money and keep you pretty. Reduce consumption, not
fuel it by lowering taxes.
It seems, however, that Estonians simply don’t believe that they have the
power to change things. So, when they are drowning, they keep quiet to protest
against lack of lifeguards and their own poor swimming skills, but shouting is
better. So, Estonians, shout!