The American Housing Meltdown and the The Literal Australian Housing Meltdown: The Convergence

The mortgage meltdown in the U.S. and the awful wildfires that devastated parts of Australia would seem to be two very different stories.  One is the story of mortgage lending gone wild; the other is the story of arson and nature burning homes and people.  Yet, there is direct similarity.  In both countries, the devastation occurred in what Americans call exurbia and Australians call tree changing areas i.e. new communities build out beyond the edge of urban and suburban areas.  The conclusion is simple: exurbia both financially and physically is not only unsustainable, but catastrophic.   We are at the end of sprawl.  

Living, as I do in Vermont, in the most rural state in the U.S., if the McMansions invade, we will fight them in the villages, we will fight them on the mountains, we will use tax rates and building codes and ACT 250, we will never surrender.