<font color="#FF0000">RANT & RAVE</font> - Sept. 11

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 don't recall ever saying my previous residence was "perfect", it wasn't or I wouldn't be here! I think your confusing low cost of living with low standard of living. Gas & utilities are considerably higher here. The amount of travel required to get anything adds to the cost of living here also. Tax millage is about the same with far less services and due to the lack of selection & competition, consumer goods & services are higher, Wal - Mart in Valdosta or Lake City are cheaper, as is just about everything else. Wages & income levels are lower here & the children of the corn attitude is free. This does not add up to a lower cost of living.

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You can certainly tell the schools are back in. Specifically by all of the flashing speed limit signs at 7-8 p.m. at night, 3-4 a.m. in the morning and on weekends. Why can't someone program these signs to flash Monday through Friday and only at the appropriate times? This shouldn't be that difficult of a task.

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The president of the United States is making a speech Tuesday to our children in Lake City, Columbia County. This philosophy and indoctrination of our children, comes directly from the communist manifesto, are we so ignorant we don't understand what is happening?

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Since I have lived in Suwannee County approximately 98 percent of the people I have met are conservative. They have been hard working, tax paying citizens all their lives. They love their God, their guns, and their freedom. They respect their neighbors and ask nothing except the freedom to work praise their God, hunt and express their freedoms. This is the little man, this is the backbone of America, of which I am proud to be one. These are the people our representatives our politicians need to uphold and support.

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I can't believe all the morons moving to Suwannee County only to discover it is a dry county then start complaining about everything under the sun. I am a liquor drinking and have lived in Suwannee County all my life and don't want it to go wet because it would only bring more idiots like you, you could have always moved to neighboring Hamilton County, it's wet but has absolutely nothing to offer. So if you don't like the place you chose to move too, shut up, pack up, and get the hell out!

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Yes I live at the Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park. I have called about this before. The papers are being thrown on the lawns with rain and the sprinkler system going. It is becoming very annoying. As I travel out in the mornings I see this often and I also see some little orange bags, placed squarely in the driveway. Is this a competitive newspaper? It might be worth it.

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All you yahoos need to get a life! Give this alcohol situation a break. Let's rant and rave about something new. Let's have a beer!

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I want to rave about the district school grade of a "B." And to congratulate former schools superintendent Walter Boatwright on that accomplishment. What an asset he was to Suwannee County Schools as he led our district with confidence and compassion, unlike the current administration. Suwannee County's loss was Madison County's gain. We will sure miss him.

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I have lived on 180th St. in McAlpin for the past 18 yrs. In all that time all the county road dept. has done is PATCH THE PATCHES. ON THE PART BETWEEN US 129 and COUNTY ROAD 49. If something isn't done the road will become a bunch of solid patches. I thought when we voted the do nothing commissioner in district 5 out of office and got a new one that things would be different. No so. still the same old pet projects get taken care of. I wish I had stayed home and not voted. If I had done that, then no one could say you got what you voted for.

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Last week's gas price at Love's in Lee, FL, was $2.47/gal. while the gas price in Live Oak was $2.58/gal. Don't you just love it???? :)

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What happened to Hamilton Co? Why, it's still there! God did not pull a Sodom & Gomorrah on it. They "Saw the Light" brother & want to halt the Exodus of their best & brightest to greener pastures. I saw no drunks or devils, but did notice less hypocrites! I did see sewer & water lines being installed down SR6 from 75, a site for the NEW power plant, a proposal for a NEW CVS store, a NEW Italian restaurant, (serving beer & wine), all the old buildings spruced up & lots of commercial for sale signs, zoned for eateries & hotels. (All within the past year)This is going to draw more revenue away from here. I ain't trying to be mean, just trying to get some action here, & maybe a laugh. "The Lord Helps Those Who Help Themselves".

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Was it REALLY necessary for the Suwannee District Schools to have a retired principal hired as a person on contract to do a reconfiguration study of the elementary schools and also have that SAME person provide information on Single School Culture? Couldn't someone else who is already employed at the district office have done that? Money is tight and we need to be conservative with ALL SCHOOL DOLLARS!!!

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Once more, a pointless defense. Hamilton has less than 1/3 of our population. The question should read " what's happening in Hamilton Co.?" Their development boards are doing the job they are funded for & it's showing. Look at the state census, the 5 dry counties are among the poorest & least populated, this is no coincidence folks. The glaring exception is Suwannee, our per capita income is way down there, but our population almost equals the other 4 combined. The RFQ standard should be applied to all appointed or contracted positions, paid or unpaid. The corruption & incompetence of giving these various responsibilities to " so & so's brother-in-law" is costing us plenty. Voters need to apply this standard at the polls also. What passes for a political system here is totally responsible for our being an "economic crisis area". Do we have any officials here with a degree in economics, political science or exp. in gov't elsewhere?

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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.)

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