Published: September 17, 2009 02:43 pm      

RANT & RAVE - Sept. 18

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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I would like to know why our county commissioner of district one and our road department can't get together to do something with 80th Terrace. This road is used by our emergency department to help save lives and homes. And there is an old railroad bed and there is always spikes and old metal coming to the top. We have money to give the state for radar detectors and money to pave a dead end road, so why don't we have money where it can help save lives and homes. They were elected to help us the people, so why can't they do their jobs ?

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I was really hacked off at that representative from South Carolina that called out, "You lie" during Pres. Obama's speech to Congress about health care. Not at the height of Bush's stupidity did anyone treat him like that. That was a huge disrespect to the office of the presidency. When will America say "Enough" with this right wing craziness? How can one person be a Muslim, a communist, a fascist, a dictator and a socialist all in one lifetime? Assuming he was ever born, which the "birthers" say never happened in America. Common sense should reign that if what they say is true, wouldn't the Republican party have verified this claim during the campaign? As for the school presentation by the president, either your children are easily swayed and gullible, or you give Obama way too much credit to be able to "brainwash" a child's mind in less than 15 minutes. For all those people who hate the government and want it to stay out of their lives, please return your social security checks and your Medicare/Medicaid cards and give back any student loans you (or your child) has, compliments of the government.

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Thank you David Campbell, principal of Branford Elementary School, for your positive approach to the President's speech to students on Tuesday. This was one of President Obama's most patriotic, non-partisan speeches he has ever given. Thank you Mr. Campbell again.

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As I see it the problem with health care in this country, is not health care at all, it is the cost of insurance that is the problem. It is easy to remedy. First and foremost is tort reform, so that doctors are not charged to death with malpractice insurance rates. These doctors do the very best they can do because of their love and dedication to helping people. The next problem is the cost of insurance coverage which would come into line by doctors not having to pay ridiculous premium for malpractice insurance. It would stand to reason if doctors did not have to pay for inflated insurance premiums his costs would come down, allowing him to reduce the amount they charge because the number of these expensive tests required to avoid malpractice suites could be eliminated, thereby trickling down to the patients.

Unrestrained lawyers are our problem, not healthcare.

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Hello this is Bobby, I would just like to reply to the person who said move if I didn't like it here. What, are you related to Nancy Pelosi? Seriously we need to work together to make our area profitable not a ghost town bypassed by everyone on the interstate. Let us have a share of the profits, not let other counties have it. We have great county employees, We don't won't to lose our money to support our maintenance, fire and police. We can't afford for more people to move out. Thank you.

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Back when the legislature granted an extra $25,000 homestead exemption fee for Suwannee County citizens, our leaders here in Suwannee county lobbied Tallahassee that our citizens not receive this due to our county being a poor county, so I'm wondering why doesn't the same rule apply to our citizens having to pay all the extra license renewal fees. Debbie Boyd are you reading this? We need some help!

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Yes, I would like to know how it is that people can walk around and proclaim that they have the Lord Jesus Christ in their heart and do not live it in their life? How do they live with themselves and how is this possible? Why is the church today more of worshipping Satan than of God?

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Could everyone please consider their neighbors across the street? We don't really want to look at your dirty garbage cans all week. Would you please consider putting them behind your house and only taking them to the front on garbage days? We can try to make our properties look as nice as possible, and this change is easy to make, and doesn't cost anything.

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Simmer down folks, there's 2 sides to every coin. If somebody was a tellin' you to give up your guns, where & how to worship God, or that you can't earn a livin' off your land, that would go over like stink in a pew. It's the same thing if a person wants to open a liquor store on his land, and folks can live anyplace they want in America. The right to speak out, earn a livin', or vote for something different is what has made this country. The sun will still rise and people on them highways just might stop and find out what a beautiful place this is, how nice we really are here, and maybe even spend a few bucks. It's called AMERICAN FREEDOM!

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Its to baad that churches puting up mesages on there markees dont no how to spel.

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To those who desperately want to believe our President is trying to indoctrinate our children, with a communist manifesto. THIS RANT IS FOR YOU! Some, especially media, have been giving you townhallers a break, acting as though you are "PASSIONATE" Americans, who have taken leave of your senses because you fear losing something that's important to your wellbeing. Well I say, BULLCRAP! Oh you are frightened, that's for sure, but it's not passion you're expressing its pure unadulterated HATE! Worse than that! It's BIGOTRY!!! Its hate because you never fathomed a black man could become president of the USA... Not just that... "THE" leader of your intolerant America! Yes Virginia, there are two Americas, they exist as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist. One tolerant and broadminded, the other intolerant and narrow-minded! From a resident of the TOLERANT AND BROADMINDED USA!

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I would like to thank the County Commissioners for the new skate park. It will provide another source of recreation for our kids and will benefit the entire community rather than a select few along with their out of town "friends". Last time I checked, you can get into skateboarding for $50.00 or less as opposed to $3,000.00 to $5,000.00 for an ATV. No activity is 100% safe and skateboarding is not without risk but fatalities are next to non-existent. Compare that to the steadily rising ATV death toll nationwide. In addition, the skate park will not conflict with the Suwannee Wilderness Trail and the millions of dollars already invested in "Green Tourism" by the Florida Park Service and many others. Suwannee County needs to develop and diversify but it must be done in a manner that complements, not detracts, from one of our greatest resources.

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What makes the great country is the FREEDOMS granted by the Constitution. A Constitution conceived by visionaries of a future where mankind has an opinion, voice, and worth. A Constitution of liberties for one nation under God. As I read Mrs. Sweet's Letter to the Editor, I was astounded by the lack of education behind this letter. Our president is not a regal king, dictator, monarch, or God forbid a fuhrer (by the way that means the father of the country). The right or liberty to raise my child and select what and who my child listens to is my own. I support the United States of America. I do not agree with or support the liberal left wing of our government. I do not and will not blindly follow a head of state that seems to contradict the essence of liberty. The right to disagree is granted to me in the beloved U.S. Constitution. As for Mrs. Sweet's comments about Senator Wilson, this statesman voiced opposition. Refer back to your history books and research John C. Calhoun. This Georgia Senator once severally beat a fellow statesman with his cane on the house floor. By the way, Congress did not chastise him. Shame on me, I think not. Shame on you for not recognizing liberty.

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Has anyone in Suwannee County and/or in its cities every been cited for walking, running or jogging on the wrong side of the road? How about doing it at night without illumination?

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I don't drink liquor nor am I an idiot, moving or invoking God into a political issue. That said, liquor is merely the lightening rod. The true focus is policies that can expand our economy, personal freedom, and an open responsive gov't. This benefits everyone, everywhere in our country, not just Suwannee Co. If you can't agree with that, then who's the idiot? This involves rescinding an existing & obviously unpopular law, created by man, not God, not making more new laws. Why not put it to the vote instead of arguing & being obnoxious. Oh, once done I'll join the other fellow in a beer!

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Seeing as how in our last commission election less than 1/3 of our freedom lovin' conservative electorate cast a ballot, how can we feel represented? This paper's opinion poll showed a whoppin' 69% opposed giving taxpayers money to the highway patrol to write us tickets! (The county gets 12%, by the way). You call this represented? One of our veteran commissioners spoke out against this action, the day after he voted for it, how's that for political doublespeak? If we were actually "represented" the comm. would address the liquor laws. For 2 yrs. this column has voiced opinions vastly in favor of abolishing the current laws, but they ignore it. I am trying to change that subject to chartering this co., which would really make a difference, but it seems beyond the grasp of folks.

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I was fully aware I was moving to a socially challenged dry county. Since unlike yourself, I do not drink distilled spirits, it is of little consequence. A moron is a person whose IQ is below 12 & an idiot is around 2. These very unfortunate people have mental capabilities of 3 to 7 yr. olds. The terms are no longer used in scientific format & are considered vile & offensive. In some religions these people are looked upon as blessed in their ignorance of human cruelty. I can assure you my own intelligence quotient is considerably higher than this and suggest you may consider shutting up and actually apologize for your uninformed tasteless comments. If you find you are incapable of such humility, perhaps you should pack up and move to Outer Mongolia, if they are willing to accept such a mean spirited narrow minded individual. Regardlessly, I will forgive your ignorance & pray God will also on your judgement day. That is provided you posses enough gray matter to comprehend my idiotic writings.

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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.)