By Doug Newman

From small things, Mama, big things one day come.
— Bruce Springsteen

It is not just the 40 or so innocent people who were detained for two hours without cause by the Aurora Police on June 2. It is the “little things” that happen here as well.

I came home yesterday afternoon to find this notice from my homeowners’ association (HOA) taped to my front door.

So what now? Will ninja-clad goons from the Grill Enforcement Administration acting on information received from spy drones start kicking down doors of unsuspecting citizens accused of violating this regulation that most people don’t even know exists? (Remember: ignorance of the law is no defense.)

Last fall, our HOA, in an apparent act of benevolence, gave us free, new, enviro-friendly toilets in all our units. I took them up on this offer.

A few weeks later, I got a notice about an inspection that had been done on my condo that revealed some defects which would cost several thousand dollars to repair. Not only did these defects not exist, I considered this a gross violation of my privacy. I consented to have my toilet replaced and nothing more.

Several other people got similar notices. I went to the next HOA meeting and raised a thermonuclear stink. I told them that not only did I not consent to the first inspection, I would not under any circumstances consent to any further inspections. They tell us that we own our homes, but they treat us otherwise.

The good news is that there have been no follow-up inspections. (Even though this was a private-sector matter, it was a gross violation of our privacy nonetheless.)

I know there are at least 3 other Ron Paul supporters in this HOA. Was it one of them or another person who hung this sign that I saw when I came in this morning? I wish they would identify themselves as I would like to join forces with them.
This is not just a matter of political philosophy, but of personal liberty.  The Police Department has only just recently employed Gestapo-like tactics on innocent citizens. Now the Fire Department are grill Nazis. And my HOA are behaving like good little slaves.

What is next? Can they ban styrofoam like Berkeley, California did several years ago? Can they cap the size of soft drinks like New York City recently did? Can they ban profanity like Middleborough, Massachusetts recently did?

Whenever you witness a government behaving tyrannically, you always have to ask: What is next? When you give governments – or bullies of any sort, such as HOAs – an inch, they WILL take a mile.

When you look the other way on “small” acts of tyranny, don’t complain to me about big acts of tyranny. When your favorite government agencies off the leash, don’t complain to me when other people with other agendas let their favorite government agencies off the leash. It shouldn’t be surprising that the FEDGOV has now assumed the power to micromanage medical care: we have let them get away with so much else over the years.

The Waldo Canyon fire in Colorado Springs. Please pray for all those affected.

Yes, forest fires are causing carnage all over Colorado right now. None of these required a grill to start. Any could have been started with a match or even a lightning strike. Are we going to outlaw matches now? Are we going to put God in jail for sending lightning strikes?

When does it end?

When they came for the grill owners, I said something, even though I didn’t own a grill. Why? Because if I don’t say anything now, they will inevitably come for me some day.
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