Another Case of Published (Not Public) Opinion

"There is no such thing as public opinion. There is only published opinion." ~Winston Churchill

Okay, I'll just be frank. It's "published opinion" in the East Valley Tribune (Phoenix area) piece: "American dream over? At least for a while, housing experts say" on the msnbc.com website.

(To read article, click here or the thumbnail on the left. It will be helpful to understand what I'm talking about if you read the article first. It's not long.)

And you can always tell when someone (a writer, the press) wants to prove (and/or promote) something (see my "sustainable communities" comment at the end). Because that's when the parade of so-called "experts" begins. (It started in the headline.) An "expert" (my definition) is someone with a degree that's lost his common sense.

And what is it that's to be proved / promoted in this article? That overall, Americans' desire to own their own homes (public opinion) has diminished.

And the case is made first by throwing cold water on the "dream" to begin with...

For anybody thinking about buying a home as an investment, the week started with a bad report that continued a years-long trickle of news to discourage homeownership.

The nationwide plunge in real estate values has triggered some experts to say it now makes more sense to rent than own, challenging the idea that homeownership is an essential part of the American dream.

And it's just too much work to purchase a home any way, another "expert" warns...

Americans will continue to want to own homes. ...Yet those looking today will find a smaller supply than usual — and at times frustration as they find themselves competing against multiple bidders and investors.

So why even try? (is the conclusion being hoped for?)

Yet another "expert" just comes right out and says it (published opinion crafted to sound like public)...

The excesses of the real estate bubble are changing attitudes about ownership. ...Homes that are selling now tend to be more energy efficient, and high gas prices are making urban development more attractive. Homebuyers are less interested in the massive houses built during the boom.

So is this really true? Is the American dream really over (at least for a while)? Or does the article (writer, press) just want it to be true? (There isn't a hidden agenda like the promotion of "sustainable communities," is there?)

What we can know for sure is the housing market is in the doldrums (whatever the reason is that got it there). And that it will come back (if the bureaucrats get out of the way). It is at that point that the measurement of Americans' desire to own their own homes ("massive" or otherwise) should be measured and not replaced with published opinion.

You might also be interested in:

• Great Housing News! (Or Is It?)
• Numbers That Lie (Or Do They?)