Ah, I see, the "argument from authority." You hold economists to be authorities on rent control, and so anyone who doubts them must be an idiot.
Did I say anyone who doubts them is an idiot? I said they are a very small minority of econmists who believe rent control works. Your arguement said that SOME economists do not believe it and you did not disagree that most do not. I countered your point by providing examples of minority opinions. I never said anything about idiocity.
Rent control is an economic policy. That is why economists have an authority over the issue of whether rent control works. I never said that what they say is gospel or that they should have the final say, I merely said that they have an authority over the subject matter. Just like architects have an authority over architecture, but yet there is still room for interpretations and outside opinion.
Further, did you miss that I said this:
Absolutely, econmists alone are not the only ones to have authority of opinion on this, that is why I do respect your opinion too.
How much more clearer can I acknowledge that anyone who doubts them are not idiots?
And what is your arguement counter to mine? You believe rent control works because you discount economists and two people in your building moved out because they can't afford it? The same situation can occur if there is rent control. So?
Despite the fact that I disagree, I do respect the opinion because I understand there are different socio-ecomonic perspectives on the issue and rent control can be viewed upon as a social policy as well, and I never argued against that.
It appears you do not respect my opinion, and that is fine.
But because I do not believe in rent control it does not make me oblivious or unqualified to the human factors of low income issues.