Hosted and produced by Shu Bartholomew, On The Commons is a weekly radio show dedicated to discussing the many issues surrounding mandatory homeowner associations, the fastest growing form of residential housing in the nation.
When mandatory membership associations first came on the scene, developers feared housing consumers would shy away from these new fangled developments where the owners would give up some of the rights and individual choices inherent with property ownership. In the 60’s and 70’s Americans could never have foreseen a life where every little aspect of their homes and private lives would be micromanaged. The notion that they would have to get permission for everything, from where to park to what to plant and whether or not they could have pets and kids, was unfathonamable. That sort of thing happened in other countries, not here! How very un-American! But over the next decades, American property owners lost more and more rights, rights they took for granted and believed they will always have. And now those same forces that cajoled and cooed and convinced Americans that giving up their rights would protect them, would protect their property values, would protect their neighborhoods are at it again. Only now “they” are bigger and the stakes are higher.
So how much more are we willing to lose? How far is too far? At what point do Americans decide they have lost enough and are not willing to lose more rights and assets?
And when that point finally comes, will there be anything left to salvage?
On The Commons this week we are joined by Tom DeWeese. Tom is the founder and president of the Virginia based Amercian Policy Center. , a grass roots action and education foundation. He believes that well informed citizens are the best hope we have of preserving the promise that is America and in that vein that he publishes several newsletters and is very active on the speaking circuit, alerting Americans to the perils lurking in the shadows. Tom has the ability to connect all the seeming unconnected issues and weave them into a pretty scary picture. Please join us On The Commons. We’ll talk a little about eminent domain, the trans Texas corridor, Smart Growth, Going Green and a whole host of other hot topics. This is a must listen show.
