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www.building-products.com

A publication of Cutler Publishing 4500 Campus 0r., Ste,480, Newport Beach, CA 92660

Publisher Alan 0akes ajoakes@aol.com

Publisher Emeritus David Cufler Director of Editorial & Production David Koenig dkoenig@building-products.com

Editor Karen Debats kdebats@building-products.com

Contributing Editors

Dwight Curran, Cada Waldemar, James Olsen, Jay Tompt, Mike Dandridge

Adveilising Sales Manager

Chuck Casev ccasey@building-products.com

Adminishation Director/Secretary Marie Oakes mfpoakes@aol.com

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Now, as many of you know, I am a Brit by birth and-lived through that country losing its empire. History is littered with the ruins of amazing empires cirmbled to nothing_l Roman,-Spanish, Mongolian, Russian, etc. I know among my readers there will be thousands of conflicting opinions,.and I am not suggesting thlt tiris country will go the same way. But history shows that these empires lasted at most only a few hundred years. And remember, a change in economic order generally leads to chinges in power structure. of course, we may not see ourselves as an empire, but I think you understand the comparison.

In our lifetimes we have only been used to an amazing itory of growth, power and innovation. We remain the most powerful militarily. We stiliinvent most of the new technologies (although we are too willing to sell them off). In many ways, the U.S. remains the envy of the world. But that image and reality are changing. our nation is at an economic crossroads. we have become too willing to accept mediocrity in everything_whether it be the goods and services we buy, our education system, or oui way ofjife. ilaediocrity leads to stagnation and decline long term.

Circulation Manager Heather Kelly hkelly@building-products.com

How to Advertise

Chuck Casey

Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 ccasey@bui ldi ng-products.com

Alan Oakes www.building-producls.com

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

CLASSIFIED David Koenig

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

How to Subscribe

SUBSCRIPTIONS Heather Ketty

Phone (949) 852-1990 Fax 949-852-0231 hkelly@building-products.com nowhere else through true entrepreneurism-which today is being stifled. And all the tax dollars being thrown at the piob_ lems may in fact be worsening them. No one could disagree that there is far too much government waste and spending.

But, there is still time! We have been tested before and ore_ make it difficult to compete. This country has succeeded like vailed. There's no reason we can't do so again. We are past the point of Band-Aids. In next month's elections, all 435 House seats and 36 of the 100 Senate seats are up for grabs. While these may be onlv mid-term elections, they may be the moit impor-' tant ever. Let's ensure we have a leadership who understands we are a "government of the people. by the people, for the people.

Alan Oakes, Publisher ajoakes@aol.com

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