I get your concern, but being probably the most individualistic country on earth, I don’t see many people accepting being told what to do to that degree. Correction on your last statement. This is not a case of “don’t like it, go somewhere else.” It’s a case of “don’t like it, don’t move here.” If a city did that, it would be an egregious. But this is just a housing development.
It still assumes the home buyer’s political views remain static. What if they change over time, for some unforeseen reason? As I asked before, do they have to sell their home to avoid being fined by the HOA? Even if the HOA’s “teeth” in this scenario is nothing more than a letter mailed to the homeowner, asking them to pretty please hoist the flag, it’s going to make life extremely awkward for that homeowner. This is an example of an HOA taking it too far.
I didn’t say it’s a good idea. I pretty much agree with everything you said. But no one is forced to buy a house there. I know for sure that I wouldn’t. But if that’s what some people want, they can have it.
HOA deed restrictions should be limited to real property improvements and structural requirements. A flag or lack thereof would never be considered in an appraisal. An HOA shouldn’t be able to regulate your political thoughts and actions. No different than an employer. Hey, you chose to work at a place that is 99% male, in a male-dominated industry….you knew that was coming. Guess what? Sexual harassment is still against the law.
If you know what the rules are when you buy the house I don't see an issue. If you don't want to fly the flag, don't but the house. HOAs have all kinds of rules throughout the country, color of paint on the houses, mailboxes, cars in the driveways, etc.
Fair Housing Act. Gotta draw the line somewhere with the HOAs. What’s stopping them from putting a “whites only” sign at the front entrance of the neighborhood? Essentially, it’s against the law to make someone of a certain creed feel like they can’t buy a home in a certain neighborhood.
This is why I really have disgust for Desantis. The whole I made life and death decisions in Iraq as a JAG officer with the Navy Seals is just too much for me to stomach. People who were deployed know he’s exaggerating.
The SCOTUS has ruled that "whites only" restrictions are unconstitutional. I actually had it in the deed on my house when I bought it but was told that it was null and void. What is the difference really between paint color and a flying a flag? Both are decorations on your house.
I believe the SCOTUS would rule the same on this if it was taken that far. It could probably be successfully argued the flag requirement is a dog whistle of sorts for racial restrictions. Don't get me wrong, I'm not endorsing that viewpoint, but I do believe there is plenty of room for that argument. Not to mention, as I mentioned earlier, either side of the fence you're on, it's still compelled speech. Even if you bleed red, white and blue, having someone forcing you to fly the flag on a property you own sort of defeats the purpose. If you're patriotic and you want to show it, go on. But if you're being forced to... yikes.
I'd be a little more than shocked to find that in my deed restrictions. Yowza. What year was the home built, if you don't mind me asking?
I agree with your post, but don’t really get your use of political here. I don’t get how whether you want to fly a flag or not is political. It could be, yes. I’ve never owned an American flag that you’d put on a house & it has nothing to do with politics. I also hate the national anthem cuz it sucks. It’s not political
I personally think the context is important. As you said, we know the context is political, but let's say it lacks sufficient evidence to declare it's political. Then it goes to free speech, where an HOA is compelling you to speak in a certain manner or else. No matter what neighborhood you live in, your right to free speech is protected. HOAs can be rigid, but this crosses over into something goes beyond maintaining the value of a property or making the necessary improvements to keep the property up to standard and code compliant.
I don’t think we’re on the same page. I don’t think I said we know the context is political. My main issue was your notion of static politics & flying the flag. I don’t get that. I think people read way too much into shit.
Ok, but it isnt the government. Its a bunch of free citizens choosing to do this nothing their rights. It's a nothing burger with cheese. Nazism would offer no such choice and would gas a % of the residents while forcing others into military service and telling them what jobs they could do all while invading other neighborhoods and killing their HOA's and taking them over and forcing the flag rule on the unsuspecting residents and gassing some of them. But sure. Nazi's.
If you do insist on engaging in performative faux patriotism about your love of the USA, try to make sure you use the correct flag
Way too hard to sing. Has racist verses (not the ones we all know). I would be fine with America the Beautiful or God Bless America instead.
Fair enough. But it’s a lightly Deistic, non Dominionist/exceptionalist vision of the Godhead, not the version that promotes white nationalist hate that is so popular in this moment.
