At some point the "freedom" to sign or not becomes less of a choice and more of requirement. Where there are few if any properties without restrictions, where the restrictions cannot be changed, and where the restrictions can be variously interpreted and messaged, the "freedom" becomes onerous and more than inconvenient. Some have the economic and emotional resources to go beyond areas where there are restrictions, others do not. I submit it is not quite as black and white as simply deciding to sign or not. I still like my way of responding to the no antenna CC&R some years ago. I was buying a house at the edge of a CC&R area. I talked to the farmer who bordered my property and he didn't like other people telling a property owner what he could do. He agreed to let me put up a free standing tower a few inches onto this farm (he'd plow around it). 73/Greg W7OZ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Weaver" <K8JE@ARRL.org> To: "arrl-odv" <arrl-odv@reflector.arrl.org> Sent: Monday, July 28, 2003 11:07 AM Subject: [ARRL-ODV:9181] Friends at HOA
(Rick, did you and my friend Rick, K8WWA, finally QSO on 6M? FYI, 'WWA is a retired Chief of Detectives for the City of Blue Ash, OH -- Cincinnati suburb and a nice guy.)
Mike,
As I said previously, I think we ought to fight antenna restrictions. I am not defending the propriety of these restrictions. I had been referring strictly to business-developed restrictions, but I feel the same way about those developed by various government groups (for reasons other than legitimate safety concerns). If I were to sign a contract that included antenna (or other restrictions with which I do not agree), I would be the one who decided to sign. It may be greatly inconvenient for me not to sign, but if I sign, it is my decision and I should take responsibility for it. Similarly, if I sign because I don't take the time to read (or have my attorney read and explain to me) a contract, this, again, is my decision. It may be inconvenient for me not to sign, to read first or to have my representative read first and educate me on this, but it is my decision.
Freedom indeed has its inconveniences. Freedom offers me the freedom to choose or reject it. Freedom of speech gives me the right to complain or not complain about anything I choose. It does not give me the right to be correct when I complain about someone doing something with which I don't agree after I agreed to it either openly or tacitly.
Please understand that I am referring to the philosophic aspect of covenants, codes, etc. I don't like them and choose to fight against them, but before I moved to a new home 5 years ago, I withheld signing the contract on it until I found the municipality would allow me to put up my tower and antennas. Caveat emptor still has a degree of legitimacy even in today's society.
CU, 73,
Jim Weaver, K8JE, Director, Great Lakes Division k8je@arrl.org - Tel. 513-459-0142
ARRL -- The reason Amateur Radio is!
GREAT LAKES DIVISION CONVENTION, September 6, 2003: See http://greatlakes.arrl.org