If we were completely honest, most of us have a touch of the Nimby in us.
It's not particularly a Westcountry condition, but the not-in-my-back-yard syndrome seems to matter more in an area famous for its landscape, and treasured by many for the seclusion and quality of life it offers.
There are very few who disagree with the need for us to develop new and renewable sources of energy. And few of them would be completely relaxed if a proposed wind turbine or solar farm was planned for somewhere close to their home.
Rubbish dumps, or waste facilities as they are often called these days, and gypsy sites, tend to provoke a similar reaction.
So too do new housing developments.
It's an undeniable fact that the far West is crying out for more housing.
High prices and a lack of affordable homes are both issues that are stifling the region's economy and having a significant effect on many rural communities. Some young people simply can't afford to live in the communities they grew up in or that they wish to work in.
Today we report that a survey commissioned by the National Housing Federation reveals that businesses across the South West have warned that the "sky-high" cost of renting and buying is making it difficult for firms to recruit staff. Four out of five (80%) of those polled in the region said the lack of affordable housing is stunting economic growth in local communities with 70% warning it is affecting their ability to attract and keep workers. It is currently calculated that Britain needs the best part of quarter of a million new homes. Less than half of them are being built.
Many smaller rural communities are seeing younger people move away in search of homes and employment. Life is draining out of those communities, and local shops, amenities and pubs are closing down.
The ComRes report also found that 55% of managers think the availability of affordable housing would be important if they were moving to another area or expanding their business.
Around three quarters of the sample said house prices are a problem in their area, adding that building more homes would stimulate the local economy and bring in more business and customers.
There is no doubt there is a need for hundreds of new houses in Devon and Cornwall.
The difficulty, as always, will be balancing meeting that need with the necessity of protecting the region's priceless environment, and with the concerns of the "nimby".
This is a massive challenge for planners and developers alike. Proper consultation, both on long- term housing strategy, and on individual developments must be rigorous, inclusive and also conclusive.
But it also a challenge for all of us Nimbies.
The South West is a beautiful place, to live and to work, but it cannot be preserved in aspic.
The region must change, develop and grow, or it will die.