You can be aligned with a group who benefits from the same position without being associated with that group or lobbying FOR that group i.e. the KKK members probably want cheaper electricity and I want cheaper electricity but that doesn't mean when I lobby for it, I'm lobbying for the KKK.

Please stop commenting like this here. Rebut the substance of the piece or don't, but whatever weird grievance you have with its author belongs somewhere other than HN.

I'm curious how we can distinguish between someone lobbying hard for the homebuilding industry and someone lobbying hard for people who need homes?

It doesn't have to be a competition. If you're having trouble deciphering which is which, their interests might just be aligned.

On this thread you can tell if somebody is lobbying hard for people who need homes because they bring up realpage or public housing and get BURIED in downvotes: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44750927

The only solution that will make a difference, apparently, is relieving the private sector of onerous regulations which impact their profit margins shrug.

I thought neoliberalism was going out of fashion but apparently not.

And you obviously already got your big expensive house and just want number to go up...

Just flag comments that violate the guidelines, don't retaliate with your own violations.