[marktwain]

Local suburban ordinances frequently limit fence heights to six feet in height to “maintain property values”

Usually, the purpose is to make sure zoning officials can spy on what is going on, which is why they ban walls.

A local zoning official eventually admitted this when I was quizzing him.

[Dr. Franklin]

Usually, the purpose is to make sure zoning officials can spy on what is going on, which is why they ban walls. A local zoning official eventually admitted this when I was quizzing him.

That's indicative of the transformation in the United States from its original agrarian foundation which wanted limited government that generally left people alone, i.e., a free country, into a suburban society in which everyone minds everyone else's business if they don't conform to the suburban ideal, and a expensive, invasive government to punish the non-conformists. Local governments do use satellite photos and drones to check compliance with local ordinances. Our government is very nosy and invasive, but doesn't much care about the threat to children from coywolves.