Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Cohousing vs "traditional" self-managed community

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

Thank you to Elizabeth for the clarification of where the “law” applies and 
where it doesn’t. I still want to stress the importance of reading laws as best 
case scenarios instead of worst case. While it is true that some judges might 
interpret a law from the most unintended interpretation there is another factor 
to be consideredl.

This is one of my umbrella issues that drive some people nuts, so bewarel.

Timothy Snyder’s work on “On Tyranny" gives the 20 lessons learned in the 20th 
century about how tyranny takes hold and how to squelch it. 

The first lesson is "Do not obey in advance.”

"Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given. In times like these, 
individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and 
then offer themselves without being asked. A citizen who adapts in this way is 
teaching power what it can do.”

Anticipatory obedience is a political tragedy.

This is why Trumpism and MAGA prepared themselves for years to act fast. They 
know that just saying something is true, makes it true. Knowlege is constructed 
and they are fully prepared to construct it.

In the case of the Fair Housing Law, the effect of a law preventing 
discrimination has been interpreted as restricting freedom, when the original 
purpose is the opposite. Cohousers across the country, as clearly evidenced on 
this list, are obeying in advance. Obeying in fear of what might be true 
instead of making reasonable decisions about what is fair or not fair. 

It is wise to review wording to be sure it isn’t unintentionally discriminatory 
and rejecting people on the basis of religion, age, family status, etc. Words 
mean diferent things to different people. The dog whistles that only some of us 
hear.

But anyone who thinks that a cohousing community is violating the Fair Housing 
Act because they want more children would have a very hard time making the case.

If you were to say we want children with two parents in residence, or  two 
parents of opposite genders, then you would probably have trouble.

But don’t obey the ridiculous interpretation of the Act in advance. Tumrp’s 
anti-inclusion actions are discriminatory and people are falling all over 
themselves to go along with them—entirely based on what “might” be true. 

Don’t make it true.

Sharon