Published: September 03, 2009 12:42 pm      

Rant & Rave - Sept. 4

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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Im'a thinkin' some folks round here might be drinkin' too much sweet tea made from manure run off water! The percentage of child molesters, wife beaters, murderers, rapists, embezzlers, or even drunks won't change by legalizing liquor. Higher income levels can increase education & awareness as well as increase budgets for social services & law enforcement, all of which can reduce these problems. Give residents a chance at improving their lot in life & earning a decent living. This would allow folks to enjoy a better quality of family leisure time instead of drinking & drugging away frustration & misery in this isolated poverty stricken place. As another reader pointed out, liberty & prosperity go hand in hand. Can we spell enlightenment?

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In response to the rant published in the 8-21 Suwannee Democrat regarding a deputy sheriff's vehicle speeding down the rancher's residential road. I feel the need to address that person's views regarding how emergency vehicles should mind the 25 mile per hour speed signs on the road while responding to a crisis. Florida state statute 316.072 defines and limits the actions an emergency traffic vehicle may take when responding to emergency. It reads in part, the driver of an authorized emergency vehicle when responding to an emergency call may exceed the maximum speed limit so as long as the driver does not endanger life or property. It goes on to state that these vehicles shall warn all other vehicles, vehicular traffic along the route by signaling sirens or other devices. This is the law. Now lets talk about the reality of an emergency. It is very shortsighted and even callous of anyone to say I don't care what the emergency is don't speed on my road. Consider this, someone breaks into your home and hold a gun to your head or to the head of the person you love most in this world only seconds before you have one fleeting moment to call 911 and plead for someone to come and help. In the second and minutes ahead, I'll bet that 25 mile per hours speed sign is nowhere inside your head, in this terrifying moment ahead I hope personally hope the emergency vehicle responds to you as quickly as possible. I hope all lives are saved, even yours.

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Yes, I'd like to say that I am so very, very proud of the Suwannee Democrat's Web site. It's updated hourly and now you can get the news that's happening without having to always wait for the paper. I do subscribe and I will continue subscribing, but if you look at the local counties around us, they cannot compete with us. My hat is off to you. Thank you, Suwannee Democrat.

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I tried to get in last week, but I couldn't make it. To the person who gave Jesus Christ the punch concerning the wine at the communion. Read I Corinthians 11:25. I hope you get my meaning.

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It is hard to be brief on a complex subject. The all pervasive agriculture zoning is a major factor in our being an "economic crisis area." Farming is vital, hard, risky & honest work. With good management & luck it can be financially rewarding also. The exception being "poor tobacco farmers," but they could grow food instead of a deadly drug. Farms do produce a few jobs here, they pay minimum wage or less with no benefits or security. Illegals often hold them, send the money abroad, pay no taxes and avail themselves of every social service possible. By powerful political lobbies the ag industry pioneered gov't bailouts a century ago with subsidies. In our area they control the politics that provide great tax rates to them. Fine, good if you can get it, but let the rest of us have a shot at survival here. Dairy products are trading below federal price levels & the USDA is warning not to expand. Our county just approved 2 new dairy ops., remember poultry? That default on tax & utility bills cost taxpayers & farmers a bundle. Dairy is not that great a food source, it is a great gov't funded propaganda machine. We are paying top $ for foreign produced food right here in ag world. Please realize there are a lot more home grown ag products in alcoholic beverages than sweet tea. We must diversify our economy here, it will benefit everyone!! Think about this around election time.

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I wonder what would be the shock waves if the local law enforcement agencies were to really enforce the seat belt laws at and around the schools in Suwannee County on a twice-weekly basis. I'd almost be the county commission could reduce its millage rate significantly. And, the sheriff might lose the next election and the police chief might lose his job.

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Town hall meeting with Congressman Allen Boyd on August 12, 2009. I went, got there 1/2 hour early the meeting room was already full, the lobby to city hall was packed and people were spilling out on the lawn. Speakers were set up in the lobby, which didn't work very well as far as I know there were no speakers for the citizens out on the lawn. Why wasn't the town meeting moved to the coliseum or a basket ball courts at one of the schools when the size of the crowd was determined. the way it was set up it was a wasted town hall meeting for most the people. It took time out of their day to let their voices be heard and perhaps get some of the answers to the questions that are bothering all Americans nowadays.

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At this point the only ones who will benefit from the industrial park are those involved in the real estate transaction. This county can't afford to be in the land speculation business. How are utilities & site development going to be paid for? We could always buy some bogus bonds & stick resident taxpayers with the cost, again. Now if it were for say, a prison, that would be no problem. This area survives on "welfare" from state & federal grants used to promote pet projects , not the residents best interests. The groups mandated to make this place an appealling, progressive destination for economic growth have failed totally. There is no chance of them doing anything except serving their own agenda, not the general public.

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I'd like to comment on all the people that want to change our county into a wet county. No doubt it will eventually create jobs when the economy picks up. But let me ask you what is Hamilton Countys problem? And for those of you that left your perfect town/county to live in Suwannee County and regret doing so, were you unaware that Lake City is 23 miles East of here? Did you ever stop and think that you might like it better there? Maybe it was the cost of living that made you decide to move here. Obviously we have something others want. Thank you Suwannee County - Stephen Ogles

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I think that's great that the city is building another skate park, skateboard park for the kids, but then the county turns down a private enterprise of a sports parks for ATVs dirt bikes plus camping for ours riders and families. families and friends that will go into Live Oak to get gas, grocerises and other supplies and help suport the ecomony in this country which we sure need. Heavens, we don't want to support to incourgae any business that will bring extra money to this county. A motorsport parks would be a ssafe place under supervisors for children and adults to ride and race where they are required to wear all the safety equipment and follow all the rules and to keep everybody safe. No people taking their atvs out on the dirt road just plain park riding. heavens no that would make no sense for Suwannee County we don't need the extra revenue, right.

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If you want to do more than Rant & Rave, go to flsenate.gov. & view statues 125.60 to 125.64. This is the procedure to charter our county, it's easy & it's good, ask Columbia Co. We must go grass roots with petitions & referendums because our "leaders" are either unwilling or incapable to address the issues we face in a realistic & competent manner. This can put term limits on them, require a 50% majority vote to take office and allow residents more say & control of our lives instead of allowing the current civic & political machine to do as they please, which is benefit themselves & their cronies. The people leaving are seeking educational & economic opportunities denied them here. We can ill afford to lose motivated, open minded, potential leaders & investors. Where ever they go will benefit from them, while our future will continue to erode with the current mindset. If our leadership, political or civic, elected or appointed (those appointed are merely puppets to those elected) refuse to make the changes, then we must change the "leadership".

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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.)