An HOA is just like any other contract that one enters into. It is not anti-freedom any more than a mortgage (they demand you send them money every month) or taking a job (they tell you where to be, when to be there and what you have to do - and will quit giving you money if you don't submit.)
If you don't want the hassel of a HOA, don't buy a house in a community with one. If you want the benefits of one, do.
I see your point, but at the same time...the whole MANDATORY HOA thing seems to be more of a status thing than anything else. There are plenty of areas we’ve lived in regardless of the HOA status. We all purchase our homes based on what we like, not based on whether there is an HOA in place or not.
When a local (county) government requires a POA or HOA by ordinance for new subdivisions they become increasingly harder to avoid. And being in an HOA is NOT like entering into a contract, it is like being subject to a quasi-governemntal agency.
PS - I DON’T want the hassle of an HOA and I don’t live with one (I purchased my property years beffore the local HOA requirement came into effect).
PPS - Please enlightn me as to the “benefits” of being abused by one of these Nazi-like organizations. We already have the racist “ ‘Mexicans’ shouldn’t be allowed to fly flags, benefit” - can you think of any others?