I don't understand why people are so f**king rock-dumb as to buy a detached house in an HOA-infested community, and then whine or lash out when the HOA goes all petty strutting fascist pig on them.

HOAs are needed for condo buildings where the common structure needs to be maintained. And for nothing else, IMHO.

Though interestingly, I part-own a non-condo (fee-simple) row house with common walls touching other houses, so maybe even the above is untrue.