Umm what the heck Texas?

[C-dub]

Actually, I do see HK's point, but unless there was something in the employee handbook or company policy prior to the incident prohibiting a display of this type or size then they don't have a leg to stand on. There may be in the future and I hope that nurse keeps her nose clean.

[DoubleJ]

this whole cluster bomb reminds me of something that happened at my apt complex when I first moved to Denton, back in 2001.
now, mind you, I moved here in September of that year. quite a lot going on in the world, and on the 12th, maybe the 13th, I went and bought a flag from ye ol' Wally World. as soon as I hung it up via the flag pole, the wind would blow, and the flag would end up on the roof and/or in the rain gutter. there just wasn't a good way to keep it squared away, so I took it off the pole, and hung it in my bedroom window.

yeah, you can't do that. no "tapestries, flags, or other hanging decoration that blocks the shades."

had to take it down.

ah, well.....

[HKUSP45C]

Actually, I do see HK's point, but unless there was something in the employee handbook or company policy prior to the incident prohibiting a display of this type or size then they don't have a leg to stand on. There may be in the future and I hope that nurse keeps her nose clean.

I hate to be contrary when you're (soerta) agreeing with me but .... I'm gonna do it any way.

There needs not be a "rule" written down anywhere to prevent your employer firing you for insubordination, (again, we will assume you're not assering rights that are part of the "protected classes" in the workforce) in Texas, anyway. This is an "at will" labor state, you're allowed to work at your employer's place of business at his or her will and you choose to show up at yours. You may be able to strong-arm them with threats (or actual execution) of lawsuits or get Akin's Army (or any other local media "advocate") to get all up on them and put them on the news and still get your way BUT, make no mistake, your employment is totally at the pleasure of the two of you.

Sometimes, even when you think your right AND you can get the public opinion behind you AND you can get your company to fold to the pressure .... you're still wrong when you look at the warfires while sitting in the other camp. Just like exercising a right to force someone to take a flag down is distasteful to some so others might think forcing an employer to allow it is equally so.

[C-dub]

No problem. I don't mind at all. When we discuss alternate viewpoints it makes us think.

I agree, if she went and put the flag back up if she were told not to, she certainly could and probably would be terminated. But, I think there's a better than 50/50 chance she would win a settlement if she wanted to take it that far.

IMHO

[john L]

On the subject of HOA's, I've never understood why anyone would voluntarily live somewhere that also came with a new, all together separate level of government to tell them how to live in their own home. I've always believed the American dream was to own your own home and not have to worry about a land lord telling you how to live.

When I was a young man in the military and could not afford to own a home, I was forced to rent. I have actually had land lords go through my garbage cans on trash day to see if I was consuming beer in the house I was renting from them. I swore then that I would one day own my own house and not have to answer to any land lords.

Well, I am older now and own a home here in Texas on 6 acres and a home in the mountains of Arkansas on 3 acres and you can bet their are no HOA's anywhere around either of my places. This does not mean we live like pigs either, we paid good money for our homes and we take pride in maintaining them and keeping them looking nice, but we set the standards. If someone else wants to set the standards for me, they need t buy it first. I guess I'm just too much of a country boy to understand why anyone would buy into the line that they need a HOA to protect their interest.

[74novaman]

On the subject of HOA's, I've never understood why anyone would voluntarily live somewhere that also came with a new, all together separate level of government to tell them how to live in their own home. I've always believed the American dream was to own your own home and not have to worry about a land lord telling you how to live.

I'll never live in one.

[KC5AV]

When you boil it all down, there are some places where it is difficult (if not impossible) to find a home that is not part of an HOA, especially in more urban environments. Also, some people just don't care.

[dicion]

When you boil it all down, there are some places where it is difficult (if not impossible) to find a home that is not part of an HOA, especially in more urban environments. Also, some people just don't care.

My Job is very urban-based. If I want to keep putting food on the kitchen table (and more guns in the safe ) I will have to work in the city. Which means my office is generally going to be in the city. Could I change careers? Possibly, but I make a decent amount doing what I do now, and I love my job. Why would I change to something new, start at the bottom again, and possibly not like it?

Unless I wanted to have a 2 or more hour commute each day, I pretty much have to live in a HOA Area... well, either that, or a not-so-good part of town. When I have to choose between the 2, I'll choose the HOA.

Do I want to some day own 100 acres out in the middle of the country, and live there however I please? Of Course, but as of right now, that is not feasable in my situation. Fortunately my HOA isn't that bad. I've only recieved 1 letter from them once, and to be honest, I diserved it. My driveway was completely full of vegetation growing in the expansion joints :P

[KD5NRH]

yeah, you can't do that. no "tapestries, flags, or other hanging decoration that blocks the shades."

Mine was that way too. I just wandered around the apartment in bikini briefs with all the blinds open. Saves a fortune on air conditioning and lighting.

I figure a few more months of walking around in well-broken-in boxers scratching myself, and my wife may decide that she doesn't need to open all the curtains in the house on the days I need to sleep in.

[Liberty]

yeah, you can't do that. no "tapestries, flags, or other hanging decoration that blocks the shades."

Mine was that way too. I just wandered around the apartment in bikini briefs with all the blinds open. Saves a fortune on air conditioning and lighting.

I figure a few more months of walking around in well-broken-in boxers scratching myself, and my wife may decide that she doesn't need to open all the curtains in the house on the days I need to sleep in.

I always said I never wanted to live under the wings of a HOA or an incorporated city. Life is full of compromises, I am fortunate not to have to deal with a HOA, but my house is in the city, and currently I'm still in an apartment. Apartment living is a real lack of freedom and just a little better than living in a halfway house. yuck..

[C-dub]

No HOA, but my city's code is nearly as bad. It is amazing what they have been able to get by with.

[bdickens]

I've always wondered when people are going to revolt against the crap that HOA's pull?

To get back on target:

You can have my flag when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!

[stevie_d_64]

I need a campaign started against my employer. They won't let me hang my girls of Dillon Precision calendar in my cubicle...oh, I guess it's not quite the same.

Mike Huckabee talked about this this morning. He also pointed out the plight of a retired Marine who is being fined fifty dollars each time he parks his car in his own driveway by his homeowner's association.

What for?

He has three of those gold foil Marine corps decals on his back window, and the HOA actually has a rule against bumper stickers and decals on resident vehicles!

I think everyone in the neighborhood needs to pry off their car dealer and manufacturer badges as well.

Why on earth does anyone live in an HOA controlled neighborhood?

I agree...

My answer to thew hospital is "Make me take it down." Of course I know the potential ramifications of that, but the world will know about it...

As far as the Marine with those stickers on his vehicle...I would make the same stand, and force them to clarify their vague "rules" and see who blicks first...They won't get a dime from me...

See, in my opinion you just don't do stuff like this to veterans, and a disabled veteran to boot...That is like standing in a corral poking a bull in the rear with a stick daring the bull to do something...Either way, somebody is going to get the horns...

[The Annoyed Man]

Tim, where is this neighborhood? Is it in Texas?

It's in Dallas.

From the above link:

The condo management company did not want to comment.

I just bet they didn't!

This kind of stuff makes my blood boil! There should be some higher authority over all HOAs, condo boards, etc. instead of always having to take these stupid issues to court.

It's called "mission creep," and it is almost universal to bureaucracies. An HOA board is a bureaucracy. If you appoint another bureaucracy to regulate the HOA bureaucracy, you've just compounded the problem rather than alleviating it. As far as I know, HOA board members run for office, just like anyone else. If they do a bad job, particularly if their actions reflect poorly on the HOA or a neighborhood as a whole, then they should be voted out of office and replaced. That simple. The manure for brains individual who pulled this boneheaded stunt ought to be dealt with on that basis.

BTW, it is exactly for reasons like this that I purposefully avoided buying a home with an HOA burden on it. In my opinions, the benefits of an HOA are far outweighed by the negatives. . . .but that's just my opinion, and it's worth exactly what it cost to read it.

[Rokyudai]

yeah, you can't do that. no "tapestries, flags, or other hanging decoration that blocks the shades."

Mine was that way too. I just wandered around the apartment in bikini briefs with all the blinds open. Saves a fortune on air conditioning and lighting.

I figure a few more months of walking around in well-broken-in boxers scratching myself, and my wife may decide that she doesn't need to open all the curtains in the house on the days I need to sleep in.

I'm sure your subtle hints didn't go unnoticed or unanswered...