The following definition is taken directly from the FBI Glossary. No further comment is necessary.
Organized Crime
The FBI defines organized crime as any group having some manner of a formalized structure and whose primary objective is to obtain money through illegal activities. Such groups maintain their position through the use of actual or threatened violence, corrupt public officials, graft, or extortion, and generally have a significant impact on the people in their locales, region, or the country as a whole.
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/investigate/organizedcrime/glossary
That’s the most clearly defined definition I’ve ever read of an HOA. The only thing missing is the part where what the HOAs do is legal because they operate as private governments.
I have to say Ward, you are so right in what you speak. Someone very wise defines these types of people as THUGS. Nila, yes what they do is also legal because the people that are supposed to protect you from criminals turn their heads!!!
Melody,
They will keep turning their heads until our voices are so loud and clear there is no way to turn without hearing us. This is two of the biggest problems in HOAs. Apathy. Fear. People would rather be watching some reality show on television over getting involved and becoming active in fighting the very private government that is going to take them down the drain with it. Fear is what keeps those that want to become active from doing so because they see what happens to those who step up and fight…they become the targets. I’ve learned it takes tremendous confidence and courage to fight these HOA Nazis and the majority of the homeowners don’t have much, if any, of either one. So, it’s left up to people like me and you to get louder and louder…until we are heard.