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The Less Government, the Better
I’ve been an HOA board member for about eight years now, and only became a member after we had a horrible issue with some residents trying to bully a young couple they didn’t like. Those of us who took over the board have followed an agenda aimed at leaving people alone, and since our covenants are minimal so it’s pretty easy. It got me to thinking, however, about the handful of residents who complain about their neighbors.
The most recent issue was someone complaining about their neighbor’s kids riding dirt bikes on the property. They didn’t like the noise and dust but it’s not an activity prohibited by the covenants. I told the woman complaining that she needed to contact the neighbors directly before we would even consider getting involved. She refused. Another neighbor talked to them and worked it out (keep in mind these are three- or five-acre tracts). The other thing we hear about often is someone not liking their neighbor’s yard clutter. We always tell them to find us where the activity is prohibited in the covenants (and, of course, it’s not).
The point is that we are the closest thing to a local government in our unincorporated community, and I’m sure to these neighborhood complainers it’s frustrating that we won’t do anything about their perceived problem. Yet to me, government (in this case, quasi-government) serves best by doing the least.
We made it clear to the residents (voters) that we felt this way when first elected, and make a point of telling them again every year. Wouldn’t it be great to hear that from political candidates? The Texas Legislature only meets every other year for 140 calendar days, and in every session, the clock runs out on all sorts of mischief. Would that we could enjoy that in our national government.
Published in General“If you see ten troubles coming down the road, you can be sure that nine will run into the ditch before they reach you.” — Calvin Coolidge
One like me. Which is why I live in a 55+ community. Thank goodness no one on our street has grandchildren who visit!
Duplicate post.
As the anarchists say, There’s no government like no government. It’s lousy political philosophy, but a pretty good advertising slogan.