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.

We are often told that residential associations are “Democracy, up close and personal”, that “there is nothing more democratic than a condo or  homeowners association.”  The online legal dictionary defines democracy as: “a government in which the supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodically held free elections”.  It all sounds highly civilized, doesn’t it?  In either case, whether a direct form of democracy, or a representative form of government,  the presumption is that the people get to voice their opinions and articulate their desires.  There has to be some form of communication, otherwise it won’t work, no matter how pretty the words.

But what happens when the “people” decide to exercise their power and try to make this “up close and personal democracy” work?

Joining us On The Commons is Bill Davis.  Bill is a Texas attorney who chose to speak out about the problems in Privatopia and was sued for sharing his knowledge and experience in private, residential associations.  We’ll find out who sued him and what happened. 

Our residential neighborhoods have increasingly become war zones as those in positions of power have systematically torn down any and all remaining defenses left to individual homeowners.  Sadly the totally ridiculous reasons given for the need for all these powers seem to have taken root and are glibly repeated by the very people who have the most to lose, the homeowners.  Additionally, we hear over and over again that the owners have chosen to live under the rules and restrictions in associations.  No doubt a few have, but most people value their autonomy and their peace and quiet and would never agree to the sheer stupidity that makes up our controlled developments. 
 
On The Commons this week we are joined by Frank Short. Frank, an attorney and advocate for individual and property rights is a frequent contributor to the show.  Frank has done our St Patrick’s Day show every year since the beginning.  We have howled like wolves, giggled and been serious in the past.  Please join us On The Common.  We’ll talk about proposed legislation and a bill waiting the Governor’s signature and what they mean.  We will also have a dramatic rendition of an actual court scene.  You just have to hear it to believe it.

June is torture awareness month and the very word conjures up images of all the war time horrors we hear about, see on both the small and large screens, read about in the history books and some novels.  But what exactly is torture and what does it do to the victim?  Well, one thought is that the purposes of torture are carried out by shattering the essential humanity of other human beings.  But is torture limited to the actions of real governments or can torture be found much closer to home?  Do you have to do something really heinous to deserve to be tortured?

On The Commons this week we are joined by Robert Crowe and Brent Brooks.  Robert is a semi-retired attorney who volunteers some of his free time to work with organizations near and dear to his heart, including Torture Abolition.  During the second half of the show we are joined by Brent Brooks.  Brent, a Georgia homeowner who came home to find his wife’s car blocked in the garage by concrete blocks, put there by the HOA.  Not understanding what was happening or what to do about it, he posted a photo on an open forum which went viral.  You can read the thread here: http://www.city-data.com/forum/atlanta/1298523-car-stuck-garage-hoa-3.html