Who wants to be a billionaire? Me!

luose I7o! How oerc ruu! According to some of us in the 997o, the l7o possess most of I the country's wealth, lay off millions, pay no taxes, don't care about anyone else, and are basically a blight on society. They are the enemy! They need to pay more to fund the healthcare reforms, the unemployed, and the bailouts, which have made them richer, while the rest of us lose our jobs and our houses, and pay our fair share of taxes. Really?

I am both a small business owner and a working employee (although, in truth, with a few more perks). But like most who read this column, I work hard to achieve business success, which allows me to provide for my family. Financially, I've experienced both good times and bad, but have always recognized that I live in a country that offers me with the opportunity to be who I want to be, one that has given me the freedom to pursue the life I'd earlier only dreamed about.

There has been much debate in the press, instigated by the Occupy Wall Street movement, filled with "us" vs. "them" rhetoric. I must say that I'm not one of the lVo by a long shot, but sure would like to be one. While that will never happen now, that aspiration has motivated me to succeed all my working life, starting in the U.K. back in the '60s. Then, I was motivated by wanting more than my parents had. I never expected to be handed anything. I knew I had to work hard and be better than the next guy. I wanted to live and work where there would be rewards for what I achieved and if there was not (as has happened), I could move on and try something else (including changing continents three times).

The OWS movement suggests that we are heading for a class war. Yet it is complete nonsense to suggest that a gap between rich and poor is any different than in any other country or at any other time in history-although some could argue the gap is getting larger. Wealth (and sometimes obscene wealth) has existed from time immemorial, from the pharoahs in Egypt to the capitalist railway barons, the Communist elite (where all was supposed to be equal), and today's tech inventors. Every country that has had wealth has had the wealthy and not-so-wealthy. The difference in the U.S. was that, if you came from nothing and were smart or, even better, had a great idea, you could succeed here like nowhere else. And, you were typically applauded for being a winner. Sadly, the tide is changing. There is an ever-increasing sense of entitlement.

Yet, it is that go-go entrepreneurial spirit that made this country so great. It's why I made the decision 35 years ago, like many before me, to move to the USA, the international poster child for opportunity. Ironically, the likes of the late Steve Jobs, who 30 years ago might have fit in with the OWS protesters, went on to become one of the world's richest men and no doubt enjoyed every dollar he earned. That's America!

I have never regretted my own decision and take great pride in what I have achieved here. I do not believe I could have been more successful anywhere else. And though I'll never have the wealth of the 77o, I don't begrudge them their success. I have worked directly for billionaires. I've seen how they spend-and sometimes waste-their money. I've even shaken my head at their lifestyles, bat in most cases they earned it, along with the right to spend it how ever they want. They had the guts to risk everything, sometimes after losing everything and coming back fighting, to risk it all again and again.

Many of today's super-rich were just like "us" in times past. Isn't it great that we live in a country that gives us all that opportunity instead of the elite few? How many of us 99Va drink coffee from Starbucks, helping to make its founder a billionaire? Or purchased Microsoft Windows? Microsoft has made over 10,000 "Us" employees millionaires, while enriching thousands of investors and allowing Bill Gates to become a very generous philanthropist. Successful companies benefit not only employees and stockholders, but the rest of us as well.

Its rags-to-riches stories have made America the most unique-and prosperous-nation in history, despite its warts. Take that away and who do we become?

I am not blind. I know there is abuse-at all levels. There are too many tax loopholes that should be closed at a personal and corporate level. But the view that all millionaires and billionaires are cheats and not paying their fair share is disingenuous. I suspect the bigger issue is that many of us have become totally disillusioned, after so many people losing their jobs and homes. I know a number of "millionaires"-including in this industry-who have also lost everything these past few years. Do not let us change what made this country great!

Alan Oakes, Publisher aioakes@aol.com www.building-products.com

A publication of Cutler Publishing 4500 Campus Dr., Ste.480, Newporl Beach, CA 92660

Publisher Alan 0akes ajoakes@aol.com

Publisher Emeritus David Cutler

Director of Editorial & Production

David Koenig dkoenig@building-products.com

Editor Karen Debats kdebats@building-products.com

Contributing Editors

Dwight Cunan, Carla Waldemar, James Olsen, Jay Tompt, Mike Dandridge

Advertising Sales Manager Chuck Casey ccasey@building-products.com

Administration Director/Secretary Marie Oakes mfpoakes@aol.com

Circulation Manager Heather Kelly hkelly@building-products.com

How to Advertise

Chuck Casey

Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 ccasey@building-products.com

Alan Oakes www. building-products.com

Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 ajoakes@aol.com

CLASSIFIED David Koenig

Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 dkoenig@building-products.com

How to Subscribe

SUBSCRIPTIONS Heather Kelly

Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 hkelly@building-products.com or send a check to 4500 Campus Dr., Ste. 480, Newport Beach, CA 92660

U.S.A.: One yeat (12 issues), $22 Two years, $36 Three years, $50

FOREIGN (Per year, paid inadvance in US funds): Surface-Canada or Mexico, $48 Other muntries, $60 Air rates also available.

SINGLE COPIES $4 + shipping

BACK ISSUES $5 + shipping

Deliver more deck sales.

Many lumber dealers are seeing their annual deck sales increase with the use of DeckTools@ software. The program is simple to learn and easy to navigate * in fact, L dealers can design a deck in a few minutes, keeping them on the showfloor

UqqrglJ Uqll uuolvll q uuur\ lrr s rrvvt/rr.V t*Ll (rather than in the backroom designing by hand). Your customers also will be impressed with your DeckTools software as they see a professional,

: h 3D photo-quality imag€ of their deck attached t0 their house. The program 3 is customizable and includes many brand-name decking manufacturers, which makes it easy t0 show and sell upgrades that you stock. And it takes care of all the paperwork with quotes, take-offs and plans.

DeckTools makes it easy t0 deliver more deck sales. Learn how by signing up for a free demonstration at www.strongtie.comldecklools or {800i 999-5099.