Published: August 27, 2009 04:08 pm      

Rant & Rave - August 28

Suwannee Countians, it's time to speak your mind! How? By calling the Suwannee Democrat Rant and Rave hotline. The hotline never closes and is your way to let it out. You can let everyone know how you feel -- as long as you express yourself in a respectful way.

Note: In written entries to Rant and Rave, errors in spelling, grammar or punctuation are those of the authors.

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God, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, casinos. A "wise" man, woman, or child will always choose God and be reconciled back to Him through Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind. "ALL" have sinned and come short of His glory. God/Jesus created each and every human being and gave us His rules, the Holy Bible, to live by.

He tells us in this great rulebook that time is of essence, very short and ONLY what's done for Jesus will "last."

Matthew 16:26 says "What shall it profit a person if they gained the whole world and, lose their soul. His fantastic rulebook also tells us if we lack wisdom we can ASK God for it and He gives it to ALL liberally. James 1:5.

My prayer is that everyone will choose LIFE and not death!!

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Recently, someone called in to rave about the animal control in this community. Well I would certainly welcome them into my neighborhood. There's dogs roaming everyday. I think that everybody in the neighborhood lets their dog out when they leave work. And you would think that if your own dog is getting into your own garbage and turning it over and making a mess, that you would grow a brain and think of a solution to secure that dog. but this happens everyday. So I would welcome animal control into my neighborhood. And that's the north end of town, Second Street and Lime Avenue and Evelyn Avenue. Animal control can come any day of the week and there will be roaming dogs.

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This is in reference to Mrs. Cundiff being overpaid on the pension fund. She is not the one who made the error. Thank you John Hale for your comments. This is one for the city to pay. I would not have the nerve to ask Mrs. Cundiff to pay it back. That's why we hire competent help.

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The letter last wk. really says it all in no uncertain terms & it's the gospel truth. How can the chamber & commission sit on their sanctimonious behinds and ignore the people they are paid to represent? This is a house divided and it won't go away. The anti liquor arguements to date are really lame. We've heard from the juvenile & unrealistic "just move" faction (700 taxpayers have), one letter about unspecified values and some mumbo-jumbo about devils. This is what we base legal decisions on? How about a discrimination lawsuit based on the fact some people can sell liquor to certain others & tell you what kind of business you can invest in. Get this co. chartered & break up the monopoly.

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The proposed industrial park is a good idea,BUT... there are a lot of issues that must be considered before writing a half million $ check. The lack of confidence in our co. gov't. is alarming. Do we have any serious ,out of this area investors on line for this project? The infrastructure needed is non-existent. Zoning for affordable homes on smaller lots must be in place for a work force to live. The educational & medical care available isn't up to par for current residents, let alone a drawing card for new investment. Retail choices are so limited both in scope & area. We need more & it needs to be spread out in the county. Leisure activity is a must. Not everyone is into 4-H, tent revivals & sweet tea. Throw in our skilled work force & welcoming attitude & then we got the whole picture. For once, let's do some homework & we might be ready to enter the competitive market place.

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Our county has been declared 1 of 4 economic crisis areas. This is the direct result from decades of inept & corrupt politics, poor education & religious fanatacism. Electing officials based on family connections & church affiliations obviously isn't working. The one service this county is good at providing is writing themselves nice checks. 700 folks leaving & more to follow places more tax burden on those remaining. Rest assured that alcohol sales and the resulting growth in the hospitality & tourism sector will provide more NEW revenue & investment than relying on taxing working folks homes & gasoline. Contact State Senator Charles Dean & get this county chartered in order to put an end to this "business as usual", I have

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The Suwannee County Commission has approved funding to purchase 100 acres of land next to the US90 and I-10 interchange. No government entity, e.g. the Suwannee County Board of Commissioners, should be in the business of investing and/or speculating. If it were such a good deal, why didn't the present owner develop the property? If it were such a good deal many private investors would have purchased the property!

Is this property going to be developed like the investment property located on Gold Kist?

The Commission should abandon this behavior! They should also abandon the consideration of purchasing property near I-10 and US 90!

I think a new Board of Commissioners might be in order, don't you?

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It is really hard to swallow that people who use Christian symbolism to advertise their business ventures can condemn someone who wants a drink with dinner or earn a living involving liquor sales. J.C. don't do endorsements! We even have a pious energy co. here, imagine that. This shows how twisted the standards are that control our lives here. God's gift to man was knowledge, the ability to reason, and conscience to know right from wrong. Our country was founded on liberty & freedom. How can the handful of people who control this co. justify denying what God & gov't bestowed upon us? All belief systems require acceptence of the supernatural & mysticism. You are free to persue this anyway you wish, let others make their own choices. This thinking brought us the inquisition & the Salem witch trials.

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I am appalled that social security recipients will not receive their annual cost of living increase for two years. If government can bail out car companies, insurance companies, banks and everything else under the sun, why can't they bail out social security? Stand up senior citizens, let your congressman hear your voice.

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Hello, this is Bobby again. Well, I see that the number of residents is down. I hope everyone isn't listening to the person who asked us to move if we didn't like the way it is. I truly like it here and I want to have my piece of steak on my day off, Sunday, at a local restaurant. The last time I looked it was 2009, not 1960 when stores were closed on Sundays. Help me keep my dinner, gas, and grocery money in local. I know it's not only a few hundred dollars a week, but how many other people are going out of town with me.

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As a reader this is not about morals, religion or liquor, it is about control. Popes and politicians have long known to keep the populace poor & uninformed so control is easier. If our development councils, chamber, and county refuse to listen, send them a message they will grasp quickly enough. Since you already have to leave the county for employment or medical care etc. why not pick up your gas, groceries etc. while your there? In other words boycott the county. You will get a better price & selection for sure & probably better service since our neighbors are aware of the situation here and very willing to accommodate our needs and accept our money. It is time we take control of the purse strings here & see if the tune doesn't change.

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Yes, I'd like to know why I'm being denied my agricultural exemption when I'm an ag zoned area and the state states in their paperwork that you’re entitled to this if you live on one acre or more, and I have over around 10 acres, and I've been denied ag exemption when I'm raising meat goats and selling them and I'd like to know why this is happening. Thank you.

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Yeah, I'd like to know who's in charge of checking up on these state employees that have retired and kept their regular positions and drawing a retirement salary. There's supposed to be a time limitation on this and most of the people on the list is way past their time limit and still drawing two salaries. So who's supposed to be checking on this to stop costing the state money. (inaudible) Employees are double dipping and collecting two salaries for seven and ten years now.

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Suwannee County, 120th Street and 145th Road. You've been promising to take care of these roads and these streets for a long time. The streets and the road are complete messes. You need to get lime rock in on these streets. 120th street you did some lime rock repair on 120th street but you missed a lot of areas that are just terribly rut holes. I sure wish that the county could get the lead out of there you know what and get going on this. Where's our tax dollars going? There supposed to take care of these roads. They're ruining our cars. Thank you.

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In reference to Friday's rant on illegal immigrants. How would you like for you and your child held at gunpoint, possibly a gun to your child's head, because that has happened and the money you busted your butt for stolen. Rent, lights, groceries, diapers you and your child now have to go without and not every Hispanic in Suwannee County is illegal. They complain because they fear for their lives, not just because their house was broken into.

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Let's talk about the other side of alcohol. Let's talk about the person that fell on the train track in a drunken stupor and was cut in half by an oncoming train. Let's talk about the hungry children, spouse abuse, lost jobs due to alcohol. Let's talk about the young man blowing off his grandmother's head in a drunken stupor. Let's talk about DUI's, money spent on lawyers, court costs, fines and lost wages due to alcohol. Let's talk about the man that went to his little girl's funeral and stole the shoes off her feet and traded them for a bottle of whiskey. Let's talk about the shame brought on the family, self and the community. Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging and whoever is deceived by it is not wise.

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Apparently, US Congressman Allen Boyd doesn't care what the honest, hard-working, taxpaying citizens of this county think. He doesn't want their comments or he wouldn't be holding a meeting at 1:30 p.m.. during the middle of the week when most working people are working and can't take off to voice their opinions. Why doesn't he hold it at 7:00 where people that work have a chance to get off and can be there. The taxpayers that support him can be there and let their side be heard.

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Callers to 386-208-8314 may express their thoughts, good or bad, 24/7 about community issues and politics, but not about private individuals or businesses. If you prefer, you may email your comments to nf.editorial@gaflnews.com. You don't have to give your name, and please, keep submissions to less than 45 seconds (that's about 150 words). We want everybody to have a chance to be heard. Submissions that are overly long will be discarded. If 45 seconds isn't enough time, write a Letter to the Editor. (Guidelines for letters appear on Page 6A of our print edition.)