Austrian Darkness & EU Light

Usually, winter in the Alps makes me think of a sunny ski vacation, but not Rattenberg, Austria, which like parts of Alaska and other places very far north is shrouded by darkness in the winter. Unlike in Alaska, “sun is plentiful less than 10 minutes' walk from the town and from Rat Mountain, the 3,000-foot hill that blocks its sunlight between November and February each year,” reports the AP wire.

The plight of the people of Rattenberg speaks to everyone who has ever walked about in state of depressed misery while everyone else around them was having a great time. Rattenberg is that sad little head that bobs along while being rained on by its personal rain cloud in the Zoloft commercials.

But, enter in a very expensive solution from the EU, and we become less sympathetic. The plan is to put mirrors on the mountain to reflect light into the town. “The European Union is footing half the $2.4 million bill, and the company says it will pay the $600,000 cost of planning the project, gambling that success will attract more business.”

All this, for a town of 440 people, according to the AP story. That’s about $5500/person. So, we ask ourselves, do they get $5500 of benefit? It’s only a 10-minute walk to sunshine after all. And does everyone really want sunshine? If you choose to live in Rattenberg, and NOT the town next door, you probably aren’t bothered that much by it. Apparently, they have a kickass skate park and every Alpine village has good beer. Do drugged-out skaters or hung-over beer drinkers need MORE sunshine? I don’t know, maybe they do. But, why not just give the people of Rattenberg $5500 each?

Imagine the possibilities:

- Juergen could move around the mountain.
- Heinz could buy a tanning bed.
- Lars could go on Zoloft.
- Max could buy some grow lamps and make his own herbal remedy.

I’m not completely opposed to this project, because it tickles my sci-fi funny bone, and I would be interested in seeing it in action. Of course, I’m not paying to build it either.

-- Kevin D. Rollins