Why Can't People Argue (Disagree) These Days?

Today is the memorial service in Arizona for Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated at age 31 on September 10th.

Please read this Opinion by former Secretary of Education William Bennett, who served under President Ronald Reagan. In it he wrote,

"Charlie Kirk may have been the last American who genuinely believed you could change someone's mind with a good argument. Think about that. When was the last time you saw someone actually switch positions during a debate? When did you last witness someone say three of the most treasured words in the English language: 'I was wrong?'"

In how many situations have you been afraid to speak out? Or to speak up?

Do you worry about what people with think or say or do? 

What if some called you a Nazi? Or a racist? Or a White Supremacist?

Let's get this closer to home - right here in the HOA? What happens when you speak out against the Boards of Directors in recent years? Has any director on the board ever said, "I was wrong"?

Will you get a nasty letter? Get kicked off a committee? Get silenced at a Board meeting? Be refused an opportunity to speak as a Board Member? Be interrupted and shut down while you are speaking?

Board members need to learn these three words: "Point of Order". They might even need to stand up and repeat them. And point at the Board President, while standing, and say loudly, "POINT OF ORDER!" And repeat it until business stops and the Point of Order is sufficiently addressed. 

A neighbor told me yesterday that Danny Trapp would just walk out. So what? The meeting then continues without him, presided over by the Vice President. If she walks out, that leaves five (and three of them are not legitimate board members). That actually would end the official meeting, because there would be no quorum. But an informal meeting/discussion could continue.

Several years ago the former president of the HOA accused me more than once of misinterpreting the By-Laws. I told him that I was "quoting" the By-Laws!. 

The By-Laws are, in most cases, quite clear. These are the rules for the operation of the HOA by the Board of Directors. Why do they violate them?

And what has happened as a result? The HOA accused me of "false accusations and continual harassment." Even the HOA's new attorney accused me of harassment after I emailed him, asking for an explanation of the August 28, 2024 Cease-and-Desist Letter.

What was his response? He emailed me that he didn't have to communicate with me because I am not a Member of the Association.

Four months later Danny Trapp directed the lawyers to sue me. Trapp knew, or should have known, that the CC&Rs prohibit such a lawsuit without the approval of 75% of the Voting Members. The lawyers knew, or should have known, that, too. That didn't stop them from filing the case in the name of The Summit Community Association, Inc.

This past week I filed a Motion with the Court to remove the HOA as the Plaintiff, because the Board of Directors never approved the lawsuit. And the Board never authorized Danny to file it.

Since the HOA really did not file the lawsuit, why is the HOA paying the bills for it? Aren't those payments illegal disbursements of funds from a South Carolina non-profit corporation?

Will the new Property Manager recognize that and refuse further payments? Only time will tell. My guess is she will pay them. Doing so will make her complicit in continuing illegal disbursements.

Are you willing to speak out and demand accountability?