No one buys a new-home looking for a lawsuit--

-- but more often than not, that is exactly what homeowners face.  It often seems that once keys are in hand, that friendly builder is nowhere to be seen should problems arise. Many tell us that their builders simply refuse to respond, and when they do, they are simply bombarded with Band-Aid-on-bullet-wound repairs, such as paint and caulk that often hide more serious underlying defects.

What are our elected officials doing about this?

Siding with Builders.

Enron and others have robbed citizens of retirement security. Unscrupulous homebuilders and their lobbying efforts are taking what little we have left to rely on as average citizens, the family home. When construction defects, predatory lending schemes and arbitration are party to this investment, it becomes a painful, expensive burden for the homeowner and their family.

It is too big a blow to the public to lose the stability we had in homeownership. We aren't free in America, we are led by the nose or prodded to believe we are, when in fact we are corporate cattle who have been sold time and again to the highest campaign contribution.

Nothing new under the sun--

The building industry has had ample time to address defective housing. In 1979, then federal trade commissioner Elizabeth Dole, a Republican, addressed the National Association of Home Builders in Nevada and told them their substandard building and unscrupulous business practices would one day catch up to them. She was wrong. Homeowners and their communities now pay the ultimate price.

Substandard new-home construction and remodeling is a growing national problem. Many homebuilding firms are taking advantage of lack of government oversight as well as non-enforcement of existing consumer protection laws and building codes. Regardless of regulatory licensing agencies, (about half the states dont even license home builders), there is little enforcement and or accountability to assure sound residential construction.

When the building industry is ready to take responsibility for those in its industry who cut corners, rather than legislate to erode consumer protection and our cherished rights to a trial of our peers as provided by the Constitution, we will see real change.

If we allow industry to take away our constitutional rights, then we have allowed our soldiers, 9/11 victims and numerous other Americans to die in vain. Our saddest, most heart-rending letters are from veterans who live in deficient homes, and are receiving no help from our government even though regulations exist that would appear to protect them. They are at a complete loss as to what they were fighting for.