Dtmck,

I appreciate your response - and I too wish we hit that magical number of 1 million housing starts - and soon. Life and business would be much more fun compared to what we are all living with at this time.

I will admit that I struggle with people bashing this and other companies for actions only seen from one side of the fence. Is sure easy to criticize when people don't have all pcs of the puzzle. Realistically, LPX just cant stop and stick their heads in the proverbial hole and wait for the market to turn. They have production to maintain, contracts to fill, and obligations to their employees and stockholders. I'm glad that I am not the ones that have to make the tough decisions that affect so many lives -- I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

I will also say that each company needs to get leaner and learn to get back to good business principles. I believe there are way too many companies sitting back and waiting for other companies to go out of business. As the time progresses and their competitors don't go out of business, they'll soon realize they have been surpassed by the same companies that were soon to be in demise -- and wondering where their market share went????

Wish you all the best for this fall/winter -- and I'm looking forward to a better 2010.

-- Junkie