Tale of two countries

"Do not say to your neighbour, “Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you"— when you already have it with you." Proverbs 3.28

Last night's weather forecast confirmed it (again): we are a nation divided by a common weather pattern: wet and windy in the north and west, dry and sunny in the south and east. It may be hard for residents of our parched regions to sympathise with their Hebridean and west highland compatriots in our longing for sunshine and an end to the incessant rain. Yet that does not appear to dent the enthusiasm of significant numbers from those balmier climes from investing in properties and second homes where the wet stuff is plentiful, thereby rendering it unaffordable for our indigenous residents who are prepared to tough it out but, because they cannot afford to return the compliment, they are stuck in limbo: unable to compete for local properties and lacking the resources to cash in for a cheaper alternative elsewhere.

This is a problem of our own making: a mixture of economic greed and feeble politics. Underlying these factors are legal and ultimately moral issues: summoning the collective determination to alter the way we control our resources, securing a fair deal for all. We all talk a good game and enjoy bashing our politicians who, in turn blame each other and make unrealistic promises to the rest of us. Meanwhile we are conveniently distracted from the swirl of crises and emergencies which surround and threaten our very existence. The world is mad and the system is broken. Will we do something about it, or wait for the edifice to collapse? History suggests the latter, the Bible commends the former. Which will it be?