Calling a permanent unfixable limit a market “scarcity” is bizarre, and so is comparing it to something that’s only temporarily scare. Obviously the solutions to permanent loss of supply and temporary shortages must be completely different. There are some real downsides to rent control, and there are some real upsides in some cities and for some people. There are also huge downsides to allowing a free-for-all, especially for the people who need housing anywhere near their jobs. It’s easy to ignore an argument that is only semantics and opinionated dogma when it’s avoiding the realities of the problems at hand.