[Mark was here]

Homeowner's Associations walk like a local government and quack like a local government, they just aren't considered a local government.

Probably because they are not one. If someone signs a contract they should read it. If the government goes about changing privately agreed to contracts, the contracts will become as valuable as a land Title in Zimbabwe.

[Arkinsaw]

Probably because they are not one. If someone signs a contract they should read it. If the government goes about changing privately agreed to contracts, the contracts will become as valuable as a land Title in Zimbabwe.

They are indeed a government. They vote, they have an executive, they impose rules based on majority vote, they can levy fines and penalties for non-compliance. They are a government. The only difference is that they can restrict free speech, gun ownership, and other things that "official" local governments cannot do. They are simply a means to have a government that can get around that nasty old Constitution's restrictions on what government's are allowed to do.

There should be no loophole for pseudo-governments that can restrict freedom of speech, displaying the US flag, etc. in exchange for the right to live within its jurisdiction.

Live free, or die.