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Old 01-01-2017, 11:41 AM
 
34,620 posts, read 21,449,697 times
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It seems whenever the topic of small government is broached, you get the influx of posters asserting that those calling for small government don't want roads, schools, etc.

I decided it would be good to compare it to HOAs in order to illustrate it better.

I live in a neighborhood with really "pretty" and really "ugly" neighborhoods in the area. There are the neighborhoods with strict HOAs that have the manicured lawns, uniform fencing and not a single boat in a driveway. All the houses are similar in size and painted uniformly in style.

I live in a neighborhood that has a few overgrown lawns. There is a few project cars in driveways that haven't moved in a year or two. And there is a couple of paint jobs that are interesting.

We also have a neighborhood that is part trailer park and part small homes that you will find an old freezer and washing machine sitting on the porch.

I CHOSE to live in a neighborhood with loose HOA rules that allow me to keep my boat in the driveway and put whatever tree or bush I want. I didn't move into the neighborhood with strict rules and try to avoid them nor did I move into the anything goes neighborhood and try to add rules I wanted.

The biggest HOA problem deals with people moving into neighborhoods with no regard to these rules. They see a beautiful neighborhood, move in and then gripe to no end about the letters they receive because their kid is doing an engine swap in his car over two months. Then there are the ones who move into the neighborhood with the two acre lots and no restrictions on horse trailers parked in the street and then flip out over the neighbor's brother living in the camper beside the common fence.

The next biggest problem is the HOA board control freaks who make it their personal mission to make sure that grass isn't a quarter of an inch too long.

Now, imagine if the HOA rules weren't set by the neighborhood but by the county, state or even the federal government. Do you want to go through DC before painting your house? Do you want DC micromanaging your lawn? Think about the Feds HOA not allowing trailer homes and taxing all regular homeowners in order to pay for the trailer home people to upgrade.

I want roads, schools, fire departments, etc, but I want things like those, and most other government functions, ran on the local level giving me both CHOICE and greater input.

Communities are best able to determine what works locally.

Do we need a federal government? Of course, but it needs to be smalll and limited to the powers outlined in the constitution.
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Old 01-01-2017, 12:30 PM
 
3,106 posts, read 1,753,824 times
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I have long thought that if the Federal govt stuck to the few things mandated by the Constitution and States handled the rest that we'd see better and more innovative solutions to problems. What we'd have would be 50 States vying with each other for the best approaches, people, and economies rather than a single entity (the Feds) deciding what works best for everyone.
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Old 01-01-2017, 12:34 PM
 
17,264 posts, read 11,101,106 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Biker53 View Post
I have long thought that if the Federal govt stuck to the few things mandated by the Constitution and States handled the rest that we'd see better and more innovative solutions to problems. What we'd have would be 50 States vying with each other for the best approaches, people, and economies rather than a single entity (the Feds) deciding what works best for everyone.
That's until States refuse to recognize the Federal government's laws supersedes state laws. CA is a good example.
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Old 01-01-2017, 01:31 PM
 
33,016 posts, read 27,313,533 times
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Since it is human nature to not want to share your neighborhood with poor people, how can local governments be trusted with zoning and social engineering?
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Old 01-01-2017, 04:20 PM
 
3,106 posts, read 1,753,824 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marino760 View Post
That's until States refuse to recognize the Federal government's laws supersedes state laws. CA is a good example.
What I am saying is that there shouldn't be any Federal laws that go beyond the specific areas delegated to the Federal govt. in the Constitution. Education for example. That should entirely be the province of the States to define and fund. There should not be a Federal Dept. of Education.

Before anyone jumps on what I just said, at the same time the US Supreme Court would still be free to declare things like "separate but equal" as unconstitutional.
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Old 01-01-2017, 04:38 PM
 
Location: Salisbury,NC
16,752 posts, read 8,113,940 times
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topic- HOA's say in my state are a form of local gov't. There are statutes Called the planned communities act (NCGS 47F). Each HOA is set up with that statute, in NC that is controlled by a GOP Majority legislature. They made changes in 2010 which just about make it impossible for the HOA to add or remove items in their covenants.

HOA's are tax exempt when only collecting dues. HOA's can place liens and foreclose for non-payers just like any city or county Gov't. Anyone who does not participate in their HOA and attend meeting's has no reason to complain. The other issue is that many never read the covenants of the community they wish to move into.

Local Govt. such as cities and counties love HOA"s.
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Old 01-01-2017, 05:10 PM
 
17,473 posts, read 17,314,892 times
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HOAs are a form of fascism. Most HOAs start off like socialism with everyone agreeing to the established rules. However, over time the corrupt and power hungry rise to positions of power in the HOA board. They hold meetings with little to no announcements prior to the meetings, they make rule changes or new rules based upon personal hatred towards a resident or personal taste. Some HOAs even use selfie sticks to take pictures of residents' yard behind a tall wooden fence. They issue fines against residents they don't like for offenses committed by residents the board do like. The abuses of power would be criminal if done by a city government.
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Old 01-01-2017, 05:15 PM
 
1,666 posts, read 1,010,690 times
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There's a balance to be had. Some problems can not be solved locally, say pollution.

For example, our community upstream on the river decides to allow the local chemical plant to do as they please, causing major disturbances to fisheries and wildlife down stream in another community. There needs to be some mechanism to solve these sorts of issues outside of war or telling the community downstream that they're SOL.
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Old 01-01-2017, 05:31 PM
 
Location: Dallas
31,290 posts, read 20,628,205 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by victimofGM View Post
HOAs are a form of fascism. Most HOAs start off like socialism with everyone agreeing to the established rules. However, over time the corrupt and power hungry rise to positions of power in the HOA board. They hold meetings with little to no announcements prior to the meetings, they make rule changes or new rules based upon personal hatred towards a resident or personal taste. Some HOAs even use selfie sticks to take pictures of residents' yard behind a tall wooden fence. They issue fines against residents they don't like for offenses committed by residents the board do like. The abuses of power would be criminal if done by a city government.
You need to move to a better neighborhood. I've lived in three different HOA neighborhoods and none of them fit your description.
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Old 01-01-2017, 05:33 PM
 
Location: Dallas
31,290 posts, read 20,628,205 times
Reputation: 9324
Quote:
Originally Posted by PDXNative2Houston View Post
There's a balance to be had. Some problems can not be solved locally, say pollution.

For example, our community upstream on the river decides to allow the local chemical plant to do as they please, causing major disturbances to fisheries and wildlife down stream in another community. There needs to be some mechanism to solve these sorts of issues outside of war or telling the community downstream that they're SOL.
There already is. It's the courts.
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