Federal mandates to the states, states mandate to the local.
Massachusetts has a well intentioned law gone bad called 40B. The intention was to create "affordable" housing. In reality is does not. I am curious though. How does your state handle condo zoning?
Living in this new age needs new paradigms. I feel confident saying that the salary gap between the haves and the have nots has widened in recent years and is changing lifestyles in addition to wiping out the middle class.
Across the street they are building 26 condos on a postage stamp lot. The Mass 40B law allows the builder to ignore local zoning, conservation, septic,wetlands boundaries and abutters objections. All he has to do is designate some of the units for "affordable" housing. BTW, affordable only has to be affordable for fifteen years, thereafter they may do what they please. Who profits? The builder,the bank and the realtor. Who lobbied for and got this passed?Abutters get to look at a "community" that resembles a prison complex.
As to condo life liberty and the persuit of happiness? Well, you have to obey the condo rules, pay an association fee, plus the mortgage. You don't mow the lawn or shovel snow but you can't own toys like snowmobiles, boats, campers or ATVs. You can eat,sleep,work and watch TV. And no gas grills, fire hazard you know.
So the plan to escape from Massachusetts has been launched.
This also sucks. What do I want in a property?
Ideally a David Koresh type compound, without the guns and religion. My parents and my inlaws are aging and have little desire to go into one of these 55+ homes. What a money sucking industry that has become too. I dread the thought of them spending their "golden" years being taken care of by non-english speaking people. Those with older parents know what I am talking about. My 2 daughters will be able to afford their own house in about 2095. I would like to help them out also.
Maybe I still have a memory of what life used to be.
I grew up in the sixites. There were no condos. We had a milk man who actually delivered milk to the house! Doctors made house calls, my mother made her own clothes and kids could walk to an open field we used as a baseball diamond.
This is America though. The land where the CEO of HP can get sacked and still get a 20 million dollar bonus.
Remember we had a milkman that delivered milk to the house.
Today I can't even call a company and talk to a real live person. Progress? No this is America, money, and Bush is king.
Lord, the horse is a little lame today. We talked about this last ride Apocalyspe thing but it will have to wait till he gets a little better.