HMAs

It continues to befuddle me how people go through the painful and convoluted process to buy a home (and usually a damn expensive one at that) and yet sign away any semblance of freedom by putting their name on the contract of some ridiculous "Homeowners Association". Agreeing that another group of people will tell you what kind of plants you are allowed to put in your yard, if you can fly Old Glory, when you have to turn your lights off, the precise color you are allowed to paint your house, and whether or not you are permitted to have a motorcycle, vegetable garden, or a pickup truck. WTF happened to the United States, a historically individualistic society, signing away your life to live in a commune? What happened to the 'American Dream'? The horror stories are numerous, here's the latest I'm aware of:

LINK

Only one of many. I've seen million-dollar houses in these "gated communities" where they even specified when trees will be trimmed. Do these people not realize that they could buy a couple acres of land, have a house built on it, and be free to do as they damn well please with it? I invite any who can enlighten me as to the benefit of joining a 'homeowner's association' vs. keeping your testicles to drop me a line.

Why not just rent a house if you want people micromanaging you? To me, if you're dumb enough to sign on to this crap you deserve whatever idiocy follows because you agreed to be a sheep. Have fun, komrad!