HOAs And Western Civilization: From Karen To Rambo

Community standards may be irksome, but enforcing them is a lot better than embracing a violent, cruel, dangerous, and ugly society.

Vince Coyner | June 26, 2026

Like most Americans, I hate HOAs. We’ve all heard stories of Homeowner’s Associations fining some veteran for flying an American flag in his yard or watched videos of some Karen or Biff playing the role of HOA cops.

But as much as a pain in the rear HOAs are, the reality is, most of the people who move into those communities do so, at least in part, because of them. Why would someone subject themselves to the petty tyrannies of HOAs? Because they want a place with specific standards, and HOAs enforce them.

I’ve lived in neighborhoods where people basically have junkyards in their front yards, others where the neighbors would party until all hours of the night, and one where an owner allowed her rottweilers to roam the neighborhood freely. Some people would say living under the rule of an HOA is an overreaction to such problems. Maybe, but the reality is I’d prefer not having to confront unruly or antisocial neighbors on a regular basis. Such things affect not only the quality of life, but also home values.

The funny thing is, sometimes choosing to live with an HOA is like living in a democratically governed country.

John Locke understood this:

The only way whereby any one devests [sic] himself of his Natural Liberty, and puts on the bonds of Civil Society is by agreeing with other Men to joyn [sic] and unite into a Community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure Enjoyment of their Properties, and a greater Security against any that are not of it.

The only way whereby any one devests [sic] himself of his Natural Liberty, and puts on the bonds of Civil Society is by agreeing with other Men to joyn [sic] and unite into a Community, for their comfortable, safe, and peaceable living one amongst another, in a secure Enjoyment of their Properties, and a greater Security against any that are not of........

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