To have and to Hold

The world, it is said, is divided into those that have and those that have not. The events of the last few months with what was originally described as the "Credit Crunch" but has now turned into the biggest financial disaster in living memory, has reminded us that for many the divide between being a "have" and a "have not"is very thin. Many folk in the UK and the US, who would a year ago have been blissfully going about their business of buying and buying, have suddenly found themselves out of work and homeless. Photos on the TV show scenes of camps in the US very much like the refugee camps we have been used to seeing in the under developed countries. Even in the developed world a large percentage of the population are only a couple of pay packets away from destitution. Here in the UK with its often criticised benefit system, there are many who will be holding their heads in their hands and wondering what they will be doing tomorrow.
The leaders of the world's richest nations met this week to declare that this must never happen again and to make unthinkable amounts of money available to prevent it from doing so. Just where is this money suddenly plucked from and if it is as easy as that to find the resources to save our selves who are suffering from a bout of gluttony and wrongdoing, why hasn't more been available to sort out the poverty and starvation in the under developed countries. Thousand up on thousands have died through lack of clean water. Millions live in poverty with little hope of a better life and we have been sad to see them on our widescreen TV in each room and have put a few pounds into the collection box whilst on a boozy night out on Comic Relief night.
The g20 also declare that they will do something about tax haven's that have allowed the very rich to avoid paying their fair dues. Just a minute? Have tax haven's been ok up until now then? Why have they been allowed to exist for as long as they do if they are at fault? And why do we have a Minister in the UK Government who has previously been associated with them?
Of course, what is clear is that there will be many of the "haves" to which the credit crunch will be no more than a mild irritation. They will be making very sure that what they have, they keep, and even do their best at gathering in a bit more from those not so lucky. It is said that "to those that have, it will be given, and to those that do not have, even that that they have shall be taken away from them". Words, I know, which are quoted out of context, but time will show us just how true they are.