Free Party MP: President’s new economy and community vision ‘awesome’
According to MP Artur Talvik (Free Party), President Kersti Kaljulaid’s Independence Day speech outlined an ‘awesome’ vision of the future, but putting it into practice would require the commitment of all of Estonia’s society.
“In a situation where the skills of thousands of people could become less necessary in the near future owing to technological progress, our chance lies in giving local communities a bigger role in organizing life so that they can supprt more economic activity and the spirit of innovation,” Talvik said. “Community-based economic activity and life is not a system of closed clans, but the lifestyle of self-sufficient educated citizens united by the Estonian spirit.”
Talvik pointed out that the economy and labor market were transforming fast because of the ripening of a new technology revolution, but that societal organization was failing to keep pace with it. New technologies and apps were simplifying the consumption of services, and traditional jobs were on the way out, he observed.
“Estonia is faced with the challenge of reforming its social security system and employment policy. The development of technology must not become a cause of poverty, unemployment, and unrest but an opportunity to become more enterprising and creative, and invest in small and smart businesses. I’m glad that the president pointed out the way,” Talvik added.
The president had rightly observed that communal activities were very widespread in Estonia even before World War II, Talvik said. “We have to revive them in a new form. Such thinking could be called a liberal conservative worldview – it preserves experience, is open to the new, and cherishes freedom.”
Editor: Dario Cavegn
Source: BNS