Pardon the pun, but we believe that facts trumps spin.
Actor Scott Baio said it during the 2016 GOP Convention. Democratic hopeful and former Vice President Joe Biden said it recently too, though both meant something different by the same words. “Make America America Again.” But it was “Let America Be America Again” is a poem written in 1935 by American poet Langston Hughes, per Wikipedia. Let’s look at that slogan in a unique way, using the context of Father’s Day.
Millions of fathers of millennials were raised with a Horatio Alger view of America. “A man’s home was his castle.” History reflects that women or men could achieve the American Dream. With savvy, hard honest work, a few breaks, discipline and so on, anyone could become a millionaire, if that was a person’s goal. These were common thoughts, although the evidence even then was incomplete at best.
There is a significant, albeit imperfect, correlation between overall home ownership rates and the sales of more manufactured homes. The graphic below tells part of the tale.
Compare that graphic to the production of pre-HUD Code mobile homes, and post HUD Code manufactured homes. Given the caveats cited, do you see some correlation between the two rates?
America has to a certain degree gone from ‘can do’ mentality to ‘no, there’s a law or regulation, and you can’t do that.’
Let’s stress that ‘Leave it to Beaver’ and ‘Father Knows Best’ were more idealized than a universal truth. But that such TV programs existed and were widely embraced decades ago depicted a world view that has been slowly shifting. Now, one has to go to TV Land on cable to see that type of programming – which was often literally in black and white.
Race riots during the later half of the prior century were often fueled by practical hurdles to equality. But if one traveled back in time to the early 1200s and England, whites were fighting other whites over the rights of the people. These were finally guaranteed by the Magna Carta in 1215.
It is also a historic fact that free blacks owned black slaves in various parts of pre-1865 America. That’s not to say that race wasn’t a factor in America, of course it was. But those two factoids about whites oppressing whites and blacks oppressing blacks are to stress the reality that there has been a long climb up from slavery, to serfdom that all races were subject to for much of human history. That struggle toward a higher degree of freedom and equality crossed several imaginary lines we hold to today. Injustice and oppression has existed globally since early in the dawn of human history. Indeed, a fair view of history could be imperfectly summed up with the following sentance. History is the story of the struggle of one group, tribe, people, or nation trying to oppress others, and those others resisting – or succumbing to – that oppression.
Those acts of oppression occurred within a ‘nation,’ as well as between tribes and nations.
Why do people pour across our southern border if not because they hope to get a better life here in the imperfect USA than their even more imperfect and troubled homeland?
The expression ‘it’s not what you know, it’s who you know’ takes the American Dream and turns it on its head. But that expression exists because it reflects the understandable perspective of numbers of people that the system is to some extent rigged.
This writer grew up in the wake of the civil rights era. America wasn’t perfect then, nor is it now. But my parents came to America after post-World War II Europe. They had witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by the National Socialists (NAZI) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), who between the two had carved up Poland and other places, until the two European socialist powers turned upon each other.
Sanitized American or global history helps no one, save in the view of those who engage in revisionism in the hopes of weaponizing the past to their supposed benefit in the present.
Home ownership and the right to earn an honest living and keep the product of one’s own two hands have been frustrated at various times for large periods of our national and global history. It is no surprise that it is so today.
Fathers and Families
Good fathers – as well as good mothers – routinely want the best for their children. There are sad exceptions to the rule, but there is something deep within a parent in an organic family that desires to improve the lot of their offspring.
- Ease of access to capital,
- ease of access to home ownership,
- equality of opportunity,
- equal justice under the law,
these are just some of the ideals that have sparked generations of Americans for centuries. Don’t forget that despite the guarantees of Magna Carta, it was imperfectly applied. That’s why thousands left England, risking a dangerous voyage to come to the American colonies in the first place. History is an uneven struggle of advances and retreats in personal rights. That’s true here and in other lands too. As a disclaimer, this writer has been a political independent for years, respectful of the rights of those who support this or that major or minor political party. The point is that these facts have political implications, but they transcend politics too.
As was noted last Sunday, some 70 years after George Orwell’s novel 1984 was published, his thoughts are sparking new interest. Orwell and other authors saw what was taking shape in their time, and they warned against a possibly darker future ahead. Big brother re-casting history, creating memory holes to do away with inconvenient truths, these Orwell and others could see were already becoming problematic. A good bit of Orwell’s concerns related to weaponizing history.
America is polarized today. But it was at the time of the revolution against England too. There were decades of efforts known as the abolition movement to end slavery. There was division in the lead up to the war between the states, which is most commonly called the Civil War. There is an uneven march to ending serfdom and slavery in the world, as the graphic below depicts.
Those points said, while there are always extremists, there is perhaps an opportunity to forge something new and unique in our own time. But that will only occur if people clearly see what’s gone wrong, and address the root causes of injustices. Those injustices include limiting people’s access to affordable housing. They also include manipulations – what Senator Bernie Sanders and now President Donald J. Trump have called – a rigged system. Increasingly, left and right see similar issues. What differs is their approach to solving those issues.
Our industry has arguably been weaponized from within, not just from outside it’s boundaries. In contacts with public officials – elected and appointed- there is among several a willingness to accept the evidence and reasoning presented here on MHProNews and on MHLivingNews, precisely because we strive to accurately cite facts, evidence and sources. Meaning, we strive to be grounded in reality. That in turn means our readers are more grounded in reality too.
As our readers are routine sources of news tips, it is an exchange, not a one-sided communication.
Mobile and Manufactured Home History
Yesterday, we noted the celebration of the 43rd Anniversary of the start of HUD Code manufactured homes (see reports below). One might wonder why the same powers-that-be in the Omaha-Knoxville-Arlington axis that failed to robustly tout the Innovations in Housing Showcase also failed to build on that event by celebrating the start of manufactured housing on June 15, 1976?
The truth is hiding in plain sight. We see evidence from politicos on both sides of the left-right aisle that manufactured homes could become a factor in the 2020 contests ahead.
But as or more important, manufactured homes offers an opportunity for those who want their own slice of the American Dream to have it. Research shows that most renters – something like 80 percent – want to be owners someday.
There are an estimated 111 million renters – per Apartment List – in America. Those fathers, mothers, and households must be presented with the full truth about manufactured homes. They must also be given the opportunity tap that opportunity in practical ways. That’s why topics like ‘enhanced preemption’ are so vital.
Be it Ever So Humble…
Even with all of the hardships and challenges, America represents an opportunity that most places on earth only aspire to have. Never forget that as we work in our own way for a better American Republic, we are each already so fortunate when compared to billions of others around the world.
The truth and proven principles must be the guiding lights in the night sky. That’s part of what that featured image at the top means.
Let’s all tip the hat to our fathers, who along with our mothers, made our lives possible. My folks and yours were human, a mix of goodness and weakness. That’s why we need a measure of mercy and appreciation combined.
Then, let’s build on the hard work of the generations that have struggled for an ever higher degree of human freedom and equality under the law. Let’s make sure that those who manipulate the system in ways that diminish our own rights and that of others are exposed, and brought to as swift an end as the law permits.
The monopolization of America is just part of a pattern that been evolving. It’s not only occurring in our manufactured home (MH) industry, but there are egregious cases in MHVille that must be addressed. That will involve the legal and political systems. In a sense, the biggest compliment we can get is the back-handed one that the Omaha-Knoxville-Arlington axis work so hard to obscure or attempt to undermine what we do here. The second biggest compliment they can give us is to keep ducking public debate over the published concerns. If they were so confident, they’d debate us, right? Instead…
That said, well plan to be here for you day-by-day to share the reports, to celebrate the successes, to do the fact-checks and analysis, as well as to call for the corrections needed.
Happy Father’s Day.
Those latest reports follow below. With no further adieu, let’s dive into the week that was from 6.9.2019 to 6.16.2019.
What’s New on MHLivingNews:
Goodbye Trailer Houses and Mobile Homes – Happy 43rd Anniversary, HUD Code Manufactured Homes – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
We’ve done several serious reports in the last year or so that look deeper behind the often dark curtain to understand why manufactured homes – along with the mobile homes and trailer houses that preceded them – are so misunderstood. Today will be a bit different.
What’s New in Washington, D.C. From MHARR
“Time to Investigate Fannie And Freddie’s Mishandling Of DTS” | Manufactured Housing Association Regulatory Reform
It’s been more than ten years since Congress enacted the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) and its “Duty to Serve Underserved Markets” (DTS) mandate. DTS directs both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to “develop loan products and flexible underwriting guidelines to facilitate a secondary market for mortgages on manufactured homes for very low, low and moderate-income families.”
What’s New on the Masthead
Surprising Non-Partisan Revelations, Opportunities, Controversies Could Decide 2020 Campaigns – Affordable Housing, Antitrust, Wealth Inequality, and Manufactured Homes
The Masthead
Senator Cory Booker (NJ-D), 2020 Democratic Presidential hopeful, President Donald J. Trump, and Vice President Mike Pence have used a similar phrase. “Enforce…the law .” Senator Bernie Sanders, another 2020 Democratic Presidential nomination candidate and President of the United States (POTUS) Trump have similarly used a phrase, ” the system is rigged,” while differing on how to unrig the system.
What’s New on the Daily Business News
Saturday 6.15.2019
· Celebrating Manufactured Housing’s 43rd Birthday, Born June 15, 1976
Celebrating Manufactured Housing’s 43rd Birthday, Born June 15, 1976
Friday 6.14.2019
· RE Focused Economist Says, ‘Millions of Housing Units’ Needed
RE Focused Economist Says, ‘Millions of Housing Units’ Needed
Thursday 6.13.2019
· Criminal Justice Reform, Benefits Cited, Including MH Industry, Communities, American Society
Criminal Justice Reform, Benefits Cited, Including MH Industry, Communities, American Society
· Investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Over Duty to Serve Manufactured Housing
Investigating Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Over Duty to Serve Manufactured Housing
· City Ponders “Mobile Housing Units,” to Address “Affordable Housing Shortage,” Citizen Reaction
City Ponders “Mobile Housing Units,” to Address “Affordable Housing Shortage,” Citizen Reaction
Wednesday 6.12.2019
· Time to Say Goodbye, Lessons Learned, What’s Next
Tuesday 6.11.2019
· Joe Stegmayer, Cavco Industries, MHI Chairman, Insights from Innovative Housing Showcase
Joe Stegmayer, Cavco Industries, MHI Chairman, Insights from Innovative Housing Showcase
· Country Star John Rich Performs ‘Shut Up About Politics’ – Manufactured Housing Takeaways
Country Star John Rich Performs ‘Shut Up About Politics’ – Manufactured Housing Takeaways
Monday 6.10.2019
· Governor Kristi Noem Tells Young Woman too Many People are Governed by Feelings
Governor Kristi Noem Tells Young Woman too Many People are Governed by Feelings
· HUD Secretary Ben Carson Address to Innovative Housing Showcase, Complete Official Speech Text
Sunday 6.9.2019
· George Orwell, All Issues Are Political Issues, Manufactured Housing Challenges, and You
George Orwell, All Issues Are Political Issues, Manufactured Housing Challenges, and You
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Let’s close with the following plug, that is actually free plug for you and your professional future.
There are a numerous good reasons why you should be on our industry-leading email headline news list. Let’s name only a few.
- When numerous federal officials are on our email list, shouldn’t you want to know what their reading?
- When the corporate leaders of the largest companies in manufactured housing are – per our sources – regular ‘5 star’ readers of our headline news, knowing they may not even like what they read, doesn’t that tell you that you should be reading them too?
- When thousands of industry professionals logon daily, routinely from our 2x weekly email headline news, isn’t that across-the-board ‘voting with time and browers’ the strongest reason you could have for being a regular reader too?
- We are pro-industry, pro-consumer, pro-growth, and believe that our industry’s proven solutions are fundamentally nonpartisan.
- To properly inform and educate others, one must be as informed as they can be too. This site is ‘informing the leaders,’ and ‘teaching the teachers.’ While we disagree with several of Warren Buffett’s business practices, one must acknowledge the wisdom of his habit of reading a lot, from a variety of sources. He reportedly reads 5 to 6 hours a day. If you read 30 minutes to an hour a day here and on MHLivingNews, you’ll find yourself grasping opportunities, and avoiding possible heartaches that you may not have realized existed.
When our homes and industry are properly understood, manufactured housing can be a major force for solving the affordable housing needs of Americans. That means we can be part of lifting millions from dependence to greater independence. From poverty to greater personal wealth. That’s accomplished in part through education and information, and this is the runaway #1 professional resource for that in all of manufactured housing. Thank you so much for your part in making that statement true. “We Provide, You Decide.” © ## (Sunday headline news recap, commentary, fact-checks, and analysis.)
(Third-party images and citations are provided under fair use guidelines.)
L. A. ‘Tony’ Kovach is co-founder of MHLivingNews, MHProNews, is a highly acclaimed industry consultant, a managing member of LifeStyle Factory Homes, LLC, and is a 25 plus year award-winning manufactured home industry professional. Kovach earned the Lottinville award in history at the University of Oklahoma. His minor in business included “Management by Objective“ (MBO).
Related Reports:
Click on the hot-linked text-image boxes below to learn more.
“We as a Nation Can Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis,” Says Secretary Ben Carson, Spotlighting Manufactured Homes, Other Emerging Housing Technologies – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
” Let’s make sure people understand what’s available,” said HUD Secretary Ben Carson about affordable housing, as he spotlighted manufactured homes as a key part of the Innovations in Housing display on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. ” You can get one of these manufactured houses, for instance, for 30 percent less, and they are very, very resilient.
Affordable Housing Needed, Corporate Corruption, and Manufactured Homes – Time to Get Federal Officials Fully Involved? – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
Imagine for the new few minutes that you are a detective trying to solve a mystery. Detectives look for clues and examine evidence. Investigators ought to be objective. Like a doctor seeking the cause for an ailment, there are tests, results, facts, and reason that should to be the drivers for solving any puzzle.
Affordable Housing War – Does Ethical, Legal Way to Redistribute Wealth from Billionaires to Millions of Americans Exist Without Socialism or Passing New Laws? – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
Let’s note from the top that what follows is rooted in reality but will be framed as an exploration of a hypothetical scenario that could redistribute wealth without resorting to socialism or new laws. It could be done via a specific use of existing antitrust and RICO laws.
Democrats, Republicans Agree – “Manufactured Homes Can Play a Vital Role in Easing” the Affordable Housing Shortage – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
For years here on MHLivingNews and our professional sister site, MHProNews, we’ve worked with a simple premise. Affordable quality living is a non-partisan issue. Rephrased, that means it should be a bipartisan effort to understand and promote the most proven kind of affordable housing that America has ever known.
Former Manufactured Housing Institute President, Manufactured Home Owners, Urban Institute, and You – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
” During my time at MHI, I was often asked the same question, “What must happen for business to return – for manufactured housing to begin growing again? ” My stock answer would usually start with ‘financing’ and end with a general comment about the need to bring ‘value’ to our customers.”
Bridging Gap$, Affordable Housing Solution Yields Higher Pay, More Wealth, But Corrupt, Rigged Billionaire’s Moat is Barrier – manufacturedhomelivingnews.com
America woke up today to division. But perhaps 75 percent (+/-) of the nation’s people could come together on a plan that demonstrably could do the following. Increase the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by some $2 Trillion Annually, without new federal spending.
In a series of direct quotes in context, a document from 21st Mortgage signed by Tim Williams, and video recorded comments by Kevin Clayton, these all line up to demonstrate how independent retailers, communities, and producers – among others – where purportedly harmed by action that could be deemed an antitrust violation. Why hasn’t Allen told his readers how that cost them money?
MHARR Calls on HUD Secretary to End Discriminatory And Exclusionary Zoning of HUD-Regulated Manufactured Homes | Manufactured Housing Association Regulatory Reform
Washington, D.C., April 30, 2019 – The Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) in an April 24, 2019 communication to U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary, Ben Carson (copy attached), has called on the Department to federally preempt local zoning ordinances which discriminatorily exclude manufactured homes regulated by HUD pursuant to the National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1974 and the Manufactured Housing Improvement Act of 2000.
MHARR Launches “Fighting Discriminatory Zoning Mandates” Manufactured Housing Project | Manufactured Housing Association Regulatory Reform
Washington, D.C., May 15, 2019 – With manufactured housing producers, retailers and communities offering their best homes (and related consumer protection) ever, and in light of the failure of the ostensible representation of the industry’s post-production sector to fully and effectively advance the marketing, consumer financing and, most importantly, the full acceptance of federally-regulated manufactured housing as the nation’s premiere source of non-subsidized affordable housing and homeownership, the Manufactured Housing Association for Regulatory Reform (MHARR) has launched a new project and initiative to fight selected, especially egregious instances of discriminatory and exclusionary zoning targeting manufactured housing and manufactured housing consumers.
“Lead, Follow … Or Get Out of The Way” | Manufactured Housing Association Regulatory Reform
The last decade-plus has not been especially kind to the manufactured housing industry and consumers of affordable housing. The 21 stCentury began with a great deal of promise for the industry and consumers alike.
