<font color="#FF0000">RANT & RAVE</font> Jan. 29

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.

~~

Here's what our representative in Congress, Allen Boyd, said* about what should be done now that Scott Brown, a Republican who vowed to vote against the health care bill, has been elected to the Senate from Massachusetts: "Focus on the healthcare thing," said Florida Rep. Allen Boyd, a leading Blue Dog Democrat. "Get the healthcare thing right and get it out of here. And then focus on the budget stuff." Is passing a health care bill what you want Allen Boyd focusing on? Let him know - (202) 225-5235, (850) 561-3979, or https://forms.house.gov/boyd/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm. (*Source: The Los Angeles Times, January 20, 2010, by Janet Hook and Noam N. Levey.)

~~

I read Mr. Henderson's letter to the editor. As I recall he had a chance as both a politician and an editor. He didn't do to good at either. Obviously critic was his calling.

~~

Just a big hoorah and an attaboy for the Suwannee County animal control officer Mrs. Hunter and her husband from the city. A lot of things are said bad of them but they were out here Friday morning and did a good job for us and they deserve a pat on the back. Attaboy! Attaboy! Bye, Bye.

~~

I would like to commend Alden of the Suwannee County rec department on the great job he did with soccer.

~~

The City improved traffic immensively when creating the roundabout at SR51, CR136, Walker, etc. It was done very tastefully for visual appeal also. However, the old tin building on CR136 is an eyesore. Isn't there any city codes to make the owners of this building tear it down or maintain the safety of the building. I imagine it is a haven for rodents and perhaps people misbehavior.

~~

The county recently put "everything out for bid" in an effort to be fair and balanced. The response for the county attorney's job should be an indication to these babbling boobs that no one really wants to deal with them. They got 2 replies and one of them from the current attorney. They are looking for another county coordinator and chances are the pool will not be as rich as it was the first time. Maybe we need to go outside the county and really find someone who doesn't have a clue about Suwannee County or it's commissioners. I give the next guy 6 months

~~

What propaganda school did Professor Walter Williams go to in order to believe that Haiti's problems are caused by not enough capitalism? Does he mean the current President of Haiti, who was hand picked by the U.S. after we helped sustain a coup that ousted their Democratically elected President, is not doing his job? Oh my. The U.S. certainly isn't in the habit of installing flunkies who are not pro-capitalist.

And then there was that capitalistic move of enormous stupidity that put the 2 main industries into private hands and then immediately shut them down forcing Haiti to import while losing all their jobs as well.

Manipulation of Haiti by stronger powers has been going on for a long time. Because of that she remains poor, disenfranchised and unable to govern herself.

~~

Its time our good old boy county commissioners to pull their heads out of the good old suwannee county sand and see the light of day for once. The dog and pony show put on and lapped up by the commission has stirred up a batch of lies and deception. Now the public safety director who called in the ISO and DOT to come in and inspect and find fault (that he knew good and well was already there), is casting blame on the volunteers, tax base, and who knows what else. The truth is the problem is lack of leadership, management, and professionalism at the helm of the county fire department. Commissioners, you quickly fired the "problem" county coordinator and hired one that stayed a few months. How long will you allow a problem public safety director to run this county's fire service and "our" county into the same ground that you hide your heads in. The improvement of the county's fire protection could have been handled in another venue and without threat to "our" insurance rates. I am tired of snake oil salesmen and paying for something that does not measure up. Look into the spending of our fire assessments and tax dollars before you jump on the public safety director's band wagon.

~~

Due to the recent ML King, Jr. Holiday, I opted to view the City's website to see the revised holiday garbage pickup schedule. Upon viewing the website, the entire 2009 schedule was present but none for 2010. What gives? Does anybody every update this site?

~~

I have written in a few times ranting about this and that. This time I want to Rave about the Suwannee Democrat, specifically the Rant and Rave column. I truly appreciate having a place where I can air my gripes and read the opinions of so many others. There seems to be no editorializing, if you or I submit something it will be published, no matter where we stand on an issue. Thank you Rant and Rave! Oh, by the way, my wife and I and some neighbors will be picking up trash in our neighborhood on Saturday. Maybe you can come out and join us or get out and clean up your own neighborhood. It would be a start...

~~

Praise be!! Some folks are starting to realize all these wonderful grants obtained here in our welfare county are coming out of you pockets to fund pet projects. The loop rd. could be a good thing if we allowed businesses to develop along it, but we won't, we will open yet another under occupied business park at taxpayer expense,strangle it with inept regulations & nepotism and call it a success. Get the incumbents out of offices they have held far too long. Put new and qualified people in charge of the chamber, tourism & economic devel. boards. We need folks with degrees and exp. in economics, political science, business & gov't admin. in these positions instead of the guy in the pew next to you. To revitalize downtown, we must provide a reason for people to get off the interstates and visit as well as a way to get local folks, ( especially new residents) on the streets in the evenings and weekends instead of leaving the county for dining, shopping and entertainment. The alcohol laws and the pious but hostile attitude keep this from ever happening.

~~

Looks as if City Hall and the City Council has made another questionable decision. Very quietly, they made the decision to put a City well field in a location that the Water Management does not recommend. Even though there were other suitable locations that not only the Water Management District recommended, but also would have bought the property and made it available to the City at no cost. Seems as though the City along with the City Council does not care how they spend our tax dollars. Makes one wonder how decisions are made at City Hall. We need to be very aware of how we vote at election time.

~~

Could someone publish the qualifications to be a city councilman. Must you be able to read or write? Add or subtract? Do you need a GED or is a Suwannee County birth certificate all that's required, qualifications be darned.

~~

It's February where are the OMI bids Mr. Stewart ? Or should I say Flip Flop again.

~~

After Fridays paper on our County's Fire Department I think it is time for someone out there to be on the hot seat mainly the person in charge. That department is costing us more and more money every year, not only with our taxes but a threat of possibly losing our fire insurance too. Our fire taxes are some of the highest in the state. My mother lives inside the city limits, they have no fire tax and lower insurance rates. This is ridiculous, this has gone too far.

~~

Apparently Congressman Boyd does not care what the people want regarding the health care bill. A so called "blue dog Democrat" that tows the party line!

I believe the election this year will unseat all such politicians as he, and that will be a good thing.

The people are speaking loud and clear and

those who are not tuned in will surely be looking for work someplace else.

Does the upset in Massachusetts not say it all? How dense are our represenatives in Washington?

~~

On the subject of Fox news, like this column, much of Fox is opinion. It is the "National Enquirer" of TV news. It owes it's very existence to political chicanery. Prior to "the tired old man we elected king" ( i.e. Ronald Reagen), foriegn ownership of media outlets was clearly & strictly banned. Mr. Murdock gave tons of money to the republican party & Reagen's campaign, in return, the laws were changed allowing a non-American to create this entertainment giant and to influence the reporting of news in a drastically different way. The key word here is entertainment and some good old politcal quid pro quo. Anyone accused of scandal, misconduct, or a polical loser is coveted by Fox as long as they have the nerve to spout out network policy lines for huge sums of money. That my freinds is entertainment!

~~

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.)

Text Only