Citing well known sources of information including often-cited research, it is a relatively simple matter to demonstrate that tens of millions of Americans have effectively been betrayed by ‘their’ own local, state, and federal governments. Combining a few examples make that headline point. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) 2025 “priced out” research demonstrated that some 74 percent of the population can’t afford the average new conventional site-built house. Then, a 2025 letter from the NAHB to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) stated: “An NAHB study on regulatory burdens shows that nearly 25% of the price of a typical newly-built single-family home is due to the broad set of regulatory burdens imposed by state, local and federal governments.³ The burdens imposed on apartment construction are even higher, as an updated joint study by NAHB and the National Multifamily Housing Council conducted in June 2022 found that up to 41% of apartment development costs are due to regulations.⁴” Next, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has at least two studies in recent years that flatly stated that for over fifty years government regulations under both Democratic and Republican administrations have been a key factor in thwarting the construction of new housing. Per HUD’s Pamela Blumenthal and Regina Gray: “The regulatory environment — federal, state, and local — that contributes to the extensive mismatch between supply and need has worsened over time. Federally sponsored commissions, task forces, and councils under both Democratic and Republican administrations have examined the effects of land use regulations on affordable housing for more than 50 years. Numerous studies find land use regulations that limit the number of new units that can be built or impose significant costs on development through fees and long approval processes drive up housing costs. Research indicates higher housing costs also drive up program costs for federal assistance, reducing the funds available to serve additional households.” In the final report on the topic for the Biden-Harris (D) Administration, HUD’s research documented a sobering side effect of these man-made barriers to more affordable U.S. housing. Per that annual HUD report: “The number of people experiencing homelessness on a single night in 2024 was the highest ever recorded. A total of 771,480 people – or about 23 of every 10,000 people in the United States – experienced homelessness in an emergency shelter, safe haven, transitional housing program, or in unsheltered locations across the country.” While addiction and mental illness can be a factor, a common point among researchers is that a lack of affordable housing is cited as the biggest factor that leads to homelessness.

1) MHProNews notes that in under 45o words, those well-documented facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) points above documented that public policy – local, state, and federal regulations – are a critical driving factor in the lack of affordable housing. And MHProNews didn’t mentioned in that paragraph the lack of sufficient numbers of “inherently affordable” HUD Code manufactured housing until now.

2) Obviously, the above studies were not performed by some obscure organizations. While some may take issue with the NAHB or HUD on this or that matter, those who might try to deflect from the term “betrayal” based on the sources of that information have a problem. The pull quote below from Part II #2 is useful.

…a core tenet of elite theory, suggesting that ruling classes maintain power not by solving societal issues, but by perpetuating them.

3) There are therefore arguably numerous levels of what might be called “betrayal” of lower- and middle-income Americans involved. To clarify that, some definitions and examples will prove useful. According to Oxford Languages, betrayal is:

the action of betraying one’s country, a group, or a person; treachery.

4) According to left-leaning Wikipedia.

Betrayal is the breaking or violation of a presumptive contract, trust, or confidence that produces moral and psychological conflict within a relationship.

5) The Cambridge Dictionary says this about the meaning of the word betrayal.

the act of not being loyal when other people believe you are loyal

6) People pay taxes and should expect their government to be loyal to the citizenry. The bulk of the American population is made up of the lower and middle classes. Per left-leaning Google’s AI powered overview.

Approximately 51% to 54% of U.S. adults identify as or live in middle-income households, while roughly 30% to 43% are classified as lower-income, working-class, or poor. The share of middle-class households has declined from 61% in 1971 to 51% in 2023, while the lower-income share has risen to 30%. 

Pew Research Center +4

Class Breakdown (2024–2025 Data):

• Middle Class (Middle & Upper-Middle): 54% of Americans identify with this group. Another estimate puts the middle-income population at 52%.

• Working/Lower Class: 31% identify as “working class” and 12% as “lower class”. Pew Research Center reported that 28% were in lower-income households. 

7) The balance of those findings by left-leaning Google’s AI overview are linked here. Roughly 81 to 97 percent of the population, depending on the source and metrics used, are counted in the combination of the lower and middle classes.

8) Then consider that some 34 to 36 percent of the population are renters. President Donald J. Trump (R) recently surprised millions by saying that he was not working to reduce housing costs. His remarks were called “political suicide.” Be that as it may, what Trump was trying to say is that he wanted to make it easier for people who rent to become owners without undermining the value of existing housing, which is the source of much of the household wealth that homeowners enjoy.

9) Team Trump points out that housing affordability was caused in part by illegal immigration and also by the surge in interest rates.

10) While the second Trump Administration (T2) has made progress on those points, which will be the topic of planned reporting in the days ahead, there is apparently not enough progress to satisfy millions. As unpopular as Democrats are, current polling suggests that they are still likely to flip at least one of the two houses of Congress in the midterms if something doesn’t change soon. The midterms are only 9 months away. Per centrist Real Clear Politics (RCP) on 2.4.2026 at 8 AM ET is the following.

11) According to 270 to Win is the following consensus forecast on the morning of 2.4.2026.

2026 House Election Forecasts

These maps reflect the ratings of a number of quantitative and qualitative forecasters, as well as some consensus projections. Click or tap any of the thumbnails for an interactive version that you can use to create and share your own 2026 House forecast.

2026 House Election: Consensus Forecast

A consensus outlook for the 2026 House Elections based on the current ratings of these three forecasters. More forecasts will be added as they become available.

12) Also, according to 270 to Win.

13) The above is useful in understanding the narrative wars that have emerged between the two major parties. Because neither Democrats nor Republicans have properly addressed implementation of existing laws that are often the root causes of the affordable housing crisis, both parties are busily trying to frame their opponents in a negative light. Google’s Gemini and other AI weighed in on the politics of the topic in the recent report linked here. Manufactured housing ought to have an opportunity in this environment.

But thus far, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has demonstrably failed to move the needle.

14) More on the manufactured housing angle in the affordable housing crisis will be provided in Part II. But next up is what Steve Cortes via the right-leaning Daily Signal had to say about what is causing the recent slide in rental costs.

This MHVille FEA is underway.

Part I. From the Daily Signal to MHProNews with permission

Commentary

Immigration Enforcement Makes America More Affordable

Steve Cortes | February 02, 2026

(ANNABELLE GORDON / AFP via Getty Images)

Closing the border is not only about security. Immigration sanity also returns the American dream to its rightful owners … the citizens of the United States. Like any country on earth, we have the right—and obligation—to prioritize the well-being of our citizens.

What policies build the strongest, most prosperous American families?

In this regard, immigration enforcement achieves two macro objectives at once: It makes America safer while also attacking the systemic affordability crisis.

The evidence is already compelling. The early economic returns on immigration enforcement are nothing short of stunning.

Fewer Illegal Aliens, Higher Wages

Real wages are the “mother’s milk” of Main Street prosperity. Most Americans do not own enough investments to really thrive from rising asset prices. Instead, their financial vitality flows from their paychecks, adjusted for the prices they must pay for the goods and services they need.

Thankfully, under President Donald Trump, real wages have risen every single month of his presidency. A big share of those benefits accrues to blue-collar workers, as this administration produces the best working-class wage growth for a new term since Richard Nixon took office in 1969. In contrast, during the Biden years, real wages declined every single month for two straight years, the worst such streak on record.

These gains result largely from at least 2.5 million illegal aliens leaving America, through self-deportations as well as removals. In industries like trucking and construction, with large segments of foreign workers, pay jumps for U.S. citizens. Even the biased New York Times recently admitted that “construction wages have been rising” due to immigration enforcement.

Border Control Equals Rent Control

Masses of illegal aliens crowd out citizens in the housing market. According to Apartment List, since Trump took office, national rent prices for Americans have actually declined by 1.4%. CNBC called the current trend “one of the more renter-friendly periods in a decade.”

In Los Angeles County, an area rife with illegal immigrants, average rental prices just fell to a four-year low. Even the ardently pro-illegal alien Los Angeles Times concedes that this improved market for renters flows largely from immigration enforcement, describing this new era as “finally, a renters’ market.” It must have pained the Los Angeles Times to admit that the price drops have been especially beneficial in “communities targeted by immigration officers.”

Of course, it’s not just LA. A similar trend in favor of renters blossoms nationwide. The American Apartment Association survey just revealed that 40% of owners and investors across the country say immigration policies are lowering rents.

Turns out the lessons of Economics 101 are real.

If American citizens do not have to compete against unjust, unlawful foreign workers, then they return home every day with more real pay—returning to homes that are getting more affordable, at last.

These trends point to much better days ahead for Americans, and especially for working-class strivers who were crushed by Bidenomics.

The Voter Mandate: Secure the Country, Grow Prosperity

Law-and-order makes sense economically, plus it makes for good politics.

Voter dissatisfaction over affordability is real and profound. For instance, in my most recent poll of battleground North Carolina, Trump’s approval rating dips to -14% net, 39% to 53%. By far, the lead driver is affordability. Right now, only 30% of North Carolina voters approve of the administration’s handling of inflation, and a massive 76% cite grocery costs as a primary inflation worry.

But there is good news for Republicans, too. By a big margin, the best issue for Trump is border control/immigration. Meanwhile, the Democrats leap to denounce the federal cops and restate their aggressively open borders radicalism. No wonder the Democrat brand is in free-fall. In my survey, only 30% of North Carolina voters give a positive view of Democrats, versus 54% who disapprove.

Conclusion: What’s Working, Works

So … a big political opening unfolds. The GOP can kill two birds with one shot. Keep people safe and ease their economic burden.

Immigration enforcement represents a just and reasonable policy approach. In fact, it is a perquisite to recover our culture, national security, street safety, and societal cohesion. Concurrently, sensible immigration control brings terrific economic benefits and provides a key solution to fixing the affordability crisis.

We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of The Daily Signal.

Steve Cortes

Steve Cortes is president of the League of American Workers, a populist right pro-laborer advocacy group, and senior political advisor to Catholic Vote. He traded bonds for 25 years before entering politics, most recently as chief strategist at BGC Partners, then chaired by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. He is a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance, plus a former commentator for Fox News and CNN.

Part II. Additional Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) from sources as shown including more MHProNews expert commentary.

In no particular order of importance are the following.

1) Ambassador Richard “Ric” Grennell, on WMAL 2.4.2026 circa 8:47 AM ET said the following.

‘Elites in power like the power of the problem…If you solve the problem, your power goes away.’

2) Google’s AI preview said the following about that statement by Grennell.

This quote highlights a core tenet of elite theory, suggesting that ruling classes maintain power not by solving societal issues, but by perpetuating them. By controlling the narrative around a problem, elites retain their influence, as resolving the issue would eliminate the justification for their continued power, according to Wikipedia and analyses of C. Wright Mills. 

Wikipedia +4

Key takeaways regarding this perspective on power:

• Perpetuation of Problems: Elite theory argues that power is concentrated in the hands of a few who often create or sustain problems to justify their dominant institutional positions.
• Control over Solutions: The “power of the problem” allows elites to dictate the terms of any proposed solutions, which are often designed to benefit themselves, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as Elite capture.
• Foxes and Lions: Sociologist Vilfredo Pareto described these elites as either “foxes” (manipulative) or “lions” (forceful), who use their positions to maintain status rather than genuinely improve society.
• Maintaining Control: If a problem is fully solved, the need for the elite’s specific, often autocratic, authority disappears. 
  Mises Institute +4

This perspective implies that structural change is difficult because the mechanisms of power rely on the existence of ongoing, unresolved crises. 

3) For some months, MHProNews tends to show the response by third-party AI more while providing the full Q&A via PDFs that are transparently provided. In this instance, it may be useful for readers to see the full Q&As, thus the following.

Gemini, let’s do a fresh facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) of the topics as shown in that PDF of the draft version of a report for MHProNews. First, double check the linked items to see if the quotes and facts that are provided by MHProNews match up to the source materials. The Ric Grennell quote I don’t think is going to be online as it was a remark heard on (streaming) radio this morning. That said, the Grennell statement – ‘Elites in power like the power of the problem…If you solve the problem, your power goes away.’ – per Google’s AI overview, is a common part of elite theory, is that correct? Is that one of the reasons that narrative control is important, perhaps particularly so in an election year? Is it fair to say that 50 years of knowing what the causes and possible cures for the affordable housing crisis are could be explained in part because of that elite theory point? Then, review the balance of the article applying the FEA method, and unpack what role manufactured housing and manufactured housing advocates ought to be playing. Then, are those manufactured housing advocates doing what they should? If not, what may explain it, given that they are routinely seasoned professionals who are well educated? Correct, confirm, or clarify anything what you see in the draft as warranted by online checks on those topics. Use plain text hyperlinks to support your findings.

Based on a review of the draft report and verification through available online sources as of February 4, 2026, the following Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) provides a cross-check of the content and addresses your questions regarding elite theory and advocacy.

1. Fact-Check: Matching Sources and Quotes

A review of recent data and historical reports confirms that the draft report’s citations are largely accurate and align with third-party source materials.

• NAHB “Priced Out” Research: The draft’s claim that 74.9% of U.S. households cannot afford a median-priced new home in 2025 is confirmed by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The median price cited ($459,826) and the income required to qualify ($141,366) are factually accurate per the NAHB’s March 2025 analysis.

• Regulatory Burden (25% Rule): The statement that regulations account for nearly 25% of the cost of a new single-family home (specifically 24.3%) is supported by long-standing NAHB research and recent 2026 congressional testimony.

• Homelessness Crisis: The draft’s reference to 771,480 people experiencing homelessness—the highest ever recorded—is verified by HUD’s 2024 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR).

• Elite Theory and Ric Grenell: While the specific streaming radio quote from this morning is not yet indexed in search engines, the sentiment expressed—“Elites in power like the power of the problem”—is a well-documented tenet of Elite Theory (as championed by sociologists like C. Wright Mills and Vilfredo Pareto). Google’s AI Overview and other academic sources confirm that this theory suggests ruling classes maintain influence by managing, rather than solving, crises to justify their continued authority.

2. Narrative Control and the Housing Crisis

The draft posits that narrative control is essential for maintaining the “power of the problem,” particularly during election cycles.

• The “50-Year” Bottleneck: Evidence shows that the federal government has identified the causes of the housing shortage (zoning and regulatory barriers) for over 50 years, starting with reports under the Nixon, Reagan, and Bush administrations.

• Political Implications: Recent remarks by President Trump on January 29, 2026, stating “I don’t want to drive housing prices down… I want to drive them up,” highlight the political complexity of the “problem”. Solving the affordability crisis would require lowering home values, which would negatively impact the wealth of current homeowners—a massive voting bloc. This conflict is a classic example of using the “power of the problem” to maintain a specific political equilibrium.

3. The Role of Manufactured Housing Advocates

Applying the FEA method to the role of industry advocates reveals a significant gap between “what is” and “what should be.”

• What they should be doing: Advocates should be aggressively leveraging federal mandates—specifically Enhanced Preemption under the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000)—to override local zoning bottlenecks that prevent placement of affordable manufactured homes.

• Are they doing it? The evidence suggests they are not. Despite decades of knowing that zoning is the primary bottleneck, the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has focused on “symbolic” legislative wins rather than using legal action to enforce federal preemption.

• Why seasoned professionals aren’t acting: The draft and related FEA suggest this “strategic silence” may be explained by Elite Capture or a Consolidation Narrative. Large corporate firms (the “Big Three”) may benefit from a throttled market where supply is limited, allowing them to raise rents and home prices while independent competitors are squeezed out by the same regulatory barriers MHI fails to challenge.

Conclusion: Correct, Confirm, or Clarify

• Confirm: The 74.9% priced-out figure and the 24.3% regulatory cost are verified.

• Confirm: The 771,480 homelessness count is the official HUD record.

• Clarify: While the Grenell quote is consistent with Elite Theory, its relevance is amplified by the fact that housing production is down 70% from the late 1990s despite a larger population and better federal laws intended to boost supply.

Documentation Links:

• NAHB: 75% of Households Priced Out in 2025

• HUD: Fifty Years of Efforts to Reduce Regulatory Barriers

• HUD: 2024 Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR)

• Apartment List: January 2026 Rent Report

4) The follow up to the above is shown below, because part of the phrasing by Gemini was deemed problematic by industry expert human intelligence (HI).

Gemini, most of that seems fine, but I want you to double check your statement here, because I think the phrasing is inaccurate: “the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI) has focused on “symbolic” legislative wins rather than using legal action to enforce federal preemption.” Specifically, what is the ‘symbolic” legislitive win? I’m not aware of any bill that has passed both houses of Congress and has been signed into law. So, what has occurred is that bills that seem to have traction are ‘moving’ but even if they become law, they are unlikely to change the dynamics much per MHARR, is that fair and more accurate?

Based on a Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) review of recent legislative activity and reports from MHARR and MHProNews, your clarification is accurate. The phrasing “symbolic legislative wins” should more precisely be described as MHI’s pursuit of “symbolic legislative activity” or “hollow victories.”

As you correctly noted, there is no major new manufactured housing bill that has passed both houses and been signed into law in the current session. The core of the issue, according to the evidence, is as follows:

1. The ROAD to Housing Act (2025)

The primary example of this “symbolic” activity is the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025.

• The “Win”: MHI has promoted its support for this bill, specifically highlighting a provision that would make the “permanent chassis” mandate optional—a change technically supported by the industry for decades.

• The Critique: MHARR (and your own analysis) argues that even if this bill passes, it would be a “hollow victory”. The bill fails to address the two “overriding bottlenecks” that actually suppress production: Discriminatory Zoning (via the non-enforcement of Enhanced Preemption) and Chatel Lending gaps (via the non-implementation of Duty to Serve).

• Impact: Without these enforcement provisions, the bill targets “low-hanging fruit” while leaving the 70% production decline unaddressed.

2. Legislative Movement vs. Legal Enforcement

The evidence confirms that MHI’s strategy focuses on “moving” bills through committees or supporting symbolic house/senate actions, rather than utilizing the legal tools already at its disposal.

• Non-Enforcement of MHIA 2000: MHARR has consistently called for MHI to use its multi-million dollar budget to bring legal action (lawsuits) to compel HUD to enforce the Enhanced Preemption clause of the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000 (MHIA 2000).

• The “Wait and See” Pattern: MHI has historically only pursued litigation—such as the DOE Energy Rule lawsuit—as a “last resort” after years of what MHARR describes as a “failing” legislative approach.

3. Conclusion: “Hollow” vs. “Symbolic”

It is fair and more accurate to state that MHI pursues legislative narratives that sound like progress (e.g., the “optional chassis” or “innovative housing showcases”) but which MHARR and FEA analysis show are unlikely to change the industry’s downward production trend.

Verified Findings:

• Fact: Production in 2025 declined even as MHI touted legislative “progress”.

• Evidence: MHARR submitted specific amendments to the ROAD Act to fix its “fundamental flaws,” but these were not prioritized in MHI’s core messaging.

• Analysis: This behavior creates a “narrative shield” that allows MHI to claim it is “working hard” in Washington while the underlying market-throttling factors remain untouched.

— MHProNews notes that the PDF of the thread of the Q&As above (3 & 4) is found at this link here. Gemini confirmed the accuracy of that PDF thread via the screen capture shown below and linked here. —

5) To mirror what Gemini was asked, xAI’s Grok was asked to address a similar input-inquiry.

Grok, let’s do a fresh facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) check of the developing report that has been uploaded to you and is also linked here: https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PrePubAIchkEvidenceThatTensMillionsAmericansHaveBeenBetrayedLocalStateFederalGovernmentsOtherBeyondPublicOfficialsInvolvedShortageAffordableHousingMHVilleFEA.pdf I want you to retrace the steps checked by Gemini (AI) as well as by human intelligence (HI) in the developing report. First, double check the linked items to see if the quotes and facts that are provided by MHProNews match up to the source materials. The Ric Grennell quote I don’t think is going to be online as it was a remark heard on (streaming) radio this morning. That said, the Grennell statement – ‘Elites in power like the power of the problem…If you solve the problem, your power goes away.’ – per Google’s AI overview, is a common part of elite theory, is that correct? Is that one of the reasons that narrative control is important, perhaps particularly so in an election year? Is it fair to say that 50 years of knowing what the causes and possible cures for the affordable housing crisis are could be explained in part because of that elite theory point? Then, review the balance of the article applying the FEA method, and unpack what role manufactured housing and manufactured housing advocates ought to be playing. Then, are those manufactured housing advocates doing what they should? If not, what may explain it, given that they are routinely seasoned professionals who are well educated? Correct, confirm, or clarify anything what you see in the draft as warranted by online checks on those topics. Use plain text hyperlinks to support your findings.

Yes, the facts-evidence-analysis (FEA) in the developing report (PDF at https://www.manufacturedhomepronews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/PrePubAIchkEvidenceThatTensMillionsAmericansHaveBeenBetrayedLocalStateFederalGovernmentsOtherBeyondPublicOfficialsInvolvedShortageAffordableHousingMHVilleFEA.pdf) hold up well under verification from official sources. The core claims align closely with primary documents from NAHB, HUD, and related research, with minor clarifications on exact wording/phrasing (e.g., slight variations in percentages or dates that don’t change the substance).

Double-Check of Key Quotes and Facts from Sources

• NAHB 2025 “priced out” research: Accurate. NAHB’s March 2025 special study states that 74.9% of U.S. households (about 100.6 million) cannot afford a median-priced new home ($459,826 at 6.5% mortgage rate). The draft’s “some 74 percent” is a close, fair rounding/summary. Full study: https://www.nahb.org/-/media/NAHB/news-and-economics/docs/housing-economics-plus/special-studies/2025/special-study-households-priced-out-of-the-housing-market-march-2025.pdf
• NAHB 2025 letter/testimony to OMB/Congress on regulatory burdens: Accurate. NAHB testimony (e.g., January 2026 hearing) and related statements confirm regulations account for nearly 25% of a typical single-family home’s price. Full context in NAHB press releases and testimony: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/press-releases/2026/01/nahb-urges-congress-to-ease-regulatory-burdens-to-help-housing-affordability
• NAHB/NMHC joint study on apartment/multifamily burdens: Accurate. The 2022 report (updated/referenced in later NAHB materials) finds regulations account for an average of 40.6% (up to 41%) of multifamily development costs. https://www.nmhc.org/globalassets/research–insight/research-reports/cost-of-regulations/2022-nahb-nmhc-cost-of-regulations-report.pdf
• HUD studies (Blumenthal/Gray) on 50+ years of regulatory barriers: Accurate and directly quoted. HUD’s “Fifty Years of Efforts to Reduce Regulatory Barriers” (2023, referencing ongoing research) notes that the regulatory environment has worsened over time, with land use regulations limiting supply and driving costs under both Democratic and Republican administrations for more than 50 years. Numerous studies confirm this drives up housing costs and federal assistance expenses. https://www.huduser.gov/archives/portal/pdredge/pdr-edge-pdrat50-082223.html
• HUD 2024 homelessness data: Accurate. The 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) Part 1 confirms a record 771,480 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2024 (about 23 per 10,000), the highest recorded, with lack of affordable housing cited as a primary driver (beyond addiction/mental health factors). https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2024-AHAR-Part-1.pdf
• Ric Grenell quote: The exact phrasing (“Elites in power like the power of the problem…If you solve the problem, your power goes away”) does not appear verbatim in public online records from recent streaming radio (as of February 2026), consistent with it being a live/on-air remark. However, similar sentiments align with elite theory, where elites/ruling classes maintain power by perpetuating (rather than solving) societal issues to preserve control and privilege. This is a core tenet in works by Mosca, Pareto, and Michels, and modern discussions frame it as elites benefiting from ongoing problems (e.g., power flows from unresolved crises). Yes, Google’s AI overview correctly identifies it as part of elite theory.
• Narrative control in election years: Yes, fair — in polarized/election contexts (e.g., 2024-2026 cycles), maintaining problem-perpetuation narratives helps consolidate power bases, rally supporters around “ongoing threats,” and avoid accountability for solutions that might dilute influence.
• 50 years of known causes/cures explained by elite theory: Fair and evidence-supported. Decades of federal commissions/task forces (under both parties) have identified regulatory/land-use barriers as key drivers, yet implementation lags — consistent with elite theory’s view that ruling classes perpetuate issues to sustain power rather than resolve them.

Role Manufactured Housing and Advocates Ought to Play

Manufactured housing (HUD Code) is positioned as a primary unsubsidized, inherently affordable solution — capable of scaling to millions if barriers (zoning discrimination, chattel financing limits, enhanced preemption/DTS enforcement) are addressed. Advocates should aggressively highlight these regulatory failures, push for policy reforms (e.g., full Duty to Serve implementation, preemption enforcement), connect dots to broader betrayal (e.g., via FEA linking NAHB/HUD data to MH underperformance), and counter narrative control with data-driven critiques.

Are Manufactured Housing Advocates Doing What They Should?

No — evidence shows significant underperformance. Production stagnates ~100,000 annually (far below 1990s peaks and potential), despite housing crises. Key advocates (e.g., Manufactured Housing Institute/MHI) emphasize promotional “success” narratives but rarely confront root causes like consolidation favoring incumbents, antitrust issues (e.g., Murex settlement in Case #1:23-cv-06715), or persistent barriers. MHARR critiques these but lacks MHI’s resources/reach. This suggests possible alignment with consolidated interests over broad industry growth — echoing elite theory’s perpetuation dynamic.

Explanations for seasoned, educated professionals not pushing harder: Incentives tied to large members (e.g., “Big Three” focus on lot-rent models), narrative control for optics/funding, or co-option where advocacy protects status quo power rather than solves supply issues.

For related MH performance gap context: https://www.housingwire.com/articles/comparing-rv-and-manufactured-housing-data-sheds-critical-light-on-u-s-affordable-housing-crisis/ (Tony Kovach op-ed, February 2, 2026 — details RV vs. MH disparity and barriers).

— MHProNews notes that the PDF of the Q&A above is linked here. The screen capture that documents the accuracy of that PDF (and thus the above) is posted below and is linked here. —

6) Google’s AI aptly raised the point about elite theory. Grok elaborated on it by providing numerous linked sources (see those in the thoughts/search results section, linked here). Grok’s links on Elite theory are shown below.

Elite theory | Political Science & Power Structures | Britannica

To carry out major initiatives and to perpetuate their hold on power, elites need nonelite support. To win it, elites may appeal to nonelite interests and to …

britannica.com

Introduction. Elite Theory: Philosophical Challenges – PMC – PubMed Central

The primary object of every elite or ruling class is to preserve power and privilege. The rule of the elite is based upon (not-necessarily …

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Elite Influence on Public Policy: Analyzing the Elite-Mass Theory – PubAdmin Institute

One of the major criticisms of the Elite-Mass Theory is that it perpetuates the existing power imbalance. By accepting the concentration of …

pubadmin.institute

Elite theory – Wikipedia

In philosophy, political science and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the state that seeks to describe and explain power relations in society.

en.wikipedia.org

a) Per Britannica.

elite theory, in political science, theoretical perspective according to which (1) a community’s affairs are best handled by a small subset of its members and (2) in modern societies such an arrangement is in fact inevitable. These two tenets are ideologically allied but logically separable.

While the “inevitable” part may be debatable. But that insight and what follows are potentially useful.

b) Per the National Institute of Health (NIH) National Library of Medicine.

…In a nutshell, classical elite theory involves the following items (Burnham 1943: 165 ff.):

1. The primary object of every elite or ruling class is to preserve power and privilege.

2. The rule of the elite is based upon (not-necessarily explicit) force and fraud.

3. The social structure is sustained by a political formula that typically correlates with a generally accepted religion, ideology or myth.

4. Every elite has two opposing tendencies: (a) an aristocratic tendency, by which the elite seeks to preserve the ruling position of its members and to prevent others from entering its ranks; (b) a democratic tendency by which (i) new elements force their way into the elite from below or (ii) the ruling class opens ranks and absorbs new elements from below.

5. In the long run, the democratic tendency always prevails. Consequently, no social structure is permanent, and no stable utopia is possible.

6. When the aristocratic tendency prevails, rapid shifts occur in the composition and structure of elites (e.g., social revolutions).

The gist of this frame of reference is that the idea of democracy conveyed by contemporary suffragist and socialist movements, as synonymous with ‘self-government’ or ‘government by the people’, is false for both Mosca and Pareto. This definition cannot be taken seriously because of its practical impossibility and of the inner characteristics of social organisations: no social groups are governed by a majority; all social groups, including societies qualified as democratic, are ruled by a minority. Both Mosca and Pareto tried to translate the ‘simple, almost obvious, observation that all organised societies consist of a vast majority without any political power and a small minority of powerholders’—this was the object of a ‘true science of politics’, that is, to ‘understand how the “political class” recruits itself, maintains itself in power, and legitimates itself through ideologies’ (Hirschman 1991, p. 52). …

c) According to the Grok-identified Public Admin Institute.

One of the core propositions of the Elite-Mass Theory is the dominance of elite values. According to this theory, the elite impose their values and preferences on society, often marginalizing the needs and desires of the masses. This dominance is maintained through various institutions, including the media, education, and even religion.

The role of elites in influencing mass opinion 

Elites have a significant role in shaping public opinion. They utilize their control over media and information channels to influence how the masses perceive issues. For instance, in India, major media houses are often owned or influenced by wealthy and powerful individuals. This concentration of media ownership means that the narratives and issues highlighted are often those that align with elite interests.

The policy process favoring elite interests 

The policy-making process is heavily skewed in favor of elite interests. This isn’t necessarily because of direct corruption or bribery, but because elites have better access to policymakers and can lobby more effectively. They have the resources to fund research, create think tanks, and engage in advocacy that aligns with their interests. As a result, policies often reflect the priorities of the elite rather than the needs of the masses.

d) Fivable.me said this.

Power elite theory challenges traditional views of democracy, arguing that a small group of influential individuals control major societal decisions…The theory highlights the concentration of power, interlocking institutions, and elite cohesion as key factors in maintaining social stratification. By analyzing decision-making processes, both formal and informal, power elite theory provides insights into how power structures operate and influence various aspects of society.

e) In some respects that is similar to the previously explored by MHProNews notion of regulatory capture.

f) MHI hired Teresa Payne, J.D., away from HUD — for what reason, exactly?

It has been said that such relationships may or may not require formal (and possibly illegal) ‘collusion.’ It is possible that ‘aligned interests’ are simply recognized and dealt with by various parties accordingly. That said, illegal collusion is a possibility which has been more-or-less formally charged by attorneys in the antitrust ‘price fixing’ case in the reports linked below. There are evidence-based reasons to believe that MHI member Murex could provide useful evidence to plaintiffs’ attorneys in that case.

g) It is inexplicable that MHI’s leaders could be so inept, so ill-informed, or so fumble prone UNLESS their behavior is intentional.  As the AIs observed, the industry is badly underperforming. While one can say that “elite capture” is a factor in that, it still very much makes the headline points. Public officials and special interests are apparently working contrary to the interests of the vast majority of the American public.

It isn’t that MHI never makes an argument worth sharing about manufactured housing. It is simply that those efforts appear to bear very little practical fruit as measured by the key performance indicator (KPI) of production.

7) It is simply a truism that:

There is always more to know.

As MHVille and the world enter a new year, stay tuned to the industry’s documented runaway #1 source for more “News through the lens of factory-built homes and manufactured housing” ^©  and “Industry News, Tips, and Views Pros Can Use”^© where “We Provide, You Decide.”^© This is the place for “Intelligence for your MHLife.” ^© As an upcoming report will show, MHProNews appears to have roughly tripled its traffic (visitors) in 12.2025 than in 12.2024. MHProNews appears to once more have averaged over a million visits for this specialized media site in December and over each of the last 4 months. MHProNews dwarfs our rival industry ‘news’ sites in combined, per SimilarWeb and Webalizer data. Webalizer reports that over half of our visitors are ‘direct request,’ so there is a strong and loyal returning audience coming to discover uniquely informative articles that are based on transparently provided facts-evidence-analysis. According to a recent email from a mainstream news editor, perhaps as soon as tomorrow MHProNews’ content will be cited on their platform. Stay tuned for updates on that and more.

Thanks be to God and to all involved for making and keeping us #1 with stead overall growth despite far better funded opposing voices. Transparently provided Facts-Evidence-Analysis (FEA) matters. ##

Statement of William C. “Bill” Boor President and Chief Executive Officer CAVCO Industries (CVCO) Chairman of Manufactured Housing Institute on Behalf of MHI-What MHI and Boor Did and Didn’t Say

Historic! Revealing Production-Retailers (Dealers) Data-Mobile Home Parks and Finance Facts from Mobile Home History-When Mobile Homes were 30% vs. 10% of all Single-Family Housing Units-FEA

Politico Pro’s EnergyWire on DOE ‘Mobile Home’ Energy Rule; Their Claims plus MHI-MHARR-DOE-FedRegister-Gemini on Manufactured Housing Energy Rule Provided-Unpacked; Comprehensive MHVille FEA

‘Seeking the Alignment of the Manufactured Housing Industry with President Trump’s and HUD Secretary Scott Turner’s Vision of Affordable Homeownership’-Q+A Danny Ghorbani ex-MHI VP ex-CEO of MHARR

 

 

Again, our thanks to free email subscribers and all readers like you, as well as our tipsters/sources, sponsors and God for making and keeping us the runaway number one source for authentic “News through the lens of manufactured homes and factory-built housing” © where “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Affordable housing, manufactured homes, reports, fact-checks, analysis, and commentary. Third-party images or content are provided under fair use guidelines for media.) See Related Reports. Text/image boxes often are hot-linked to other reports that can be access by clicking on them.)

 

By L.A. “Tony” Kovach – for MHProNews.com.

Tony earned a journalism scholarship and earned numerous awards in history and in manufactured housing.

For example, he earned the prestigious Lottinville Award in history from the University of Oklahoma, where he studied history and business management. He’s a managing member and co-founder of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, the parent company to MHProNews, and MHLivingNews.com.

This article reflects the LLC’s and/or the writer’s position and may or may not reflect the views of sponsors or supporters.

http://latonykovach.com

Connect on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/latonykovach

 

 

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