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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Please, I am not supporting K2 and similar dangerous products nor advocating or voicing an opinion on substance abuse, it is a serious problem. Just saying that we might be better off with the demon already known. Pot laws were created about 4 decades before Veitnam by the way. That’s obviously worked out well. Hopefully you never have health problems that involve serious pain, the laws make it almost impossible & very expensive to get legal, badly needed perscriptions. The point is prohibition is not a solution, folks are going to get a buzz somehow, right or wrong. No law of man or God is going to change it. Might not be good sense, but that’s how it is.

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 I would love to see more action taken when it comes to underage drinking in our county. I am tired of seeing the teenagers out drinking and doing drugs and then getting behind the wheel. I’m tired of our youth thinking it is okay. They need more than just a warning. I’ve called the law on several underage drinking parties that were going on close to my house and you could hear them spinning out and racing up and down the roads. I thought when minors were caught drinking they would get some kind of punishment like their license taken away for a while or atleast something to make them realize what they are doing is wrong and dangerous to others but after all the times I have called nothing happened. They were told to just keep the noise down when they could clearly see the keg sitting under the light. What good is that supposed to do? They are still going to get into their vehicles and drive under the influence of drugs and alcohol. Not to mention most of the youth work out in the community and go to work hung over. Just think they are the ones you’re trusting to change your tires, care for the elderly, and do maintenance on your vehicles.

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I wonder if all water uses were to stop, would SRWMD notice any difference in surface and groundwater tables?  We’d still be in a drought.

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Today, 15 December 10, is the 219th anniversary of the adoption of the Bill of Rights, the first Ten Amendments to our Constitution, as ratified in 1791.

The Bill of Rights was inspired by three remarkable documents: John Locke’s 1689 thesis, Two Treatises of Government, regarding the protection of “property” (in the Latin context, proprius, or one’s own “life, liberty and estate”); in part from the Virginia Declaration of Rights authored by George Mason in 1776 as part of that state’s Constitution; and, of course, in part from our Declaration of Independence authored by Thomas Jefferson.

Read in context, the Bill of Rights is both an affirmation of innate individual rights and a clear delineation on constraints upon the central government. As oft trampled and abused as the Bill of Rights is, Patriots should remain vigilant in the fight for our rights.

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U.S. student comparisons to other nations have fallen since the Dept. of Education was formed by Jimmy Carter in 1980. It’s current budget is $68.6 billion. Time to axe a wasteful federal department that does more harm than good.

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Cheers for the Suwannee River Valley Marketing Group for promoting eco-tourism outside our area. This is the most viable, sustainable and profitable economic path we can persue. Using this grant money to expand exposure is absolutely what needs done. Our unique and scenic enviroment should be the #1 draw. If this county doesn’t revise land use & change the alcohol law we will get the short end as usual, while the other counties reap the rewards. This can protect our springs while utilizing them profitably, much better than the current policy of commercial explotation by large corporate interests.

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Apparently the kids that put the soap in the water at the fountain don’t read. I went by the other day and there it was soapy water, bubbles coming out of that memorial, that is just sad. What I suggest is that we turn off the water to the fountain and conserve water, help with this drought that they say we are now facing. And I certainly hope that these young people that are doing these deeds get turned in because they need to do community service time in a veterans’ graveyard. Also I would like to comment that the town is dead. I drive by and it’s sad, there is nothing in this town, there are only a few businesses that have a few lights up and the rest of it just dead. We spent a lot of money to decorate the downtown area and it is to no avail. I think we need to look on how this community exists and why it exists and who is making the decisions to keep this town under wraps. I hope y’all have a Merry Christmas and a safe New Year and let’s look forward to next year when we can look forward to changes that will brighten the lives of everyone in this community. Thank you.

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Thanking you for rant and rave. I would like to make a comment on the gentleman who stands out at the Suwannee Middle School in the mornings and afternoons directing traffic, they have sincerely been there cold, heat, rain. We thank you, we appreciate you for supporting our school system at Suwannee Middle School. Thank you.

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Live Oak Schools have got their grades. If our children came home with those grade drops, they would be put on restriction. I think we should do the same thing with the so-called professionals that run our schools and run the business of our education here in this county.

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Yes, Mr. Scarborough said two years ago when he was elected that he would make some changes in our school system. The newspaper says that the school grades are down in Suwannee from a C to a D, and in Branford from an A to a B. Jerry, this is not the change we wanted for our kids.

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To those who are dumping the trash at 96th and 217, we have your tag, next time you will be told. Thank you.

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This is to the property owner who can’t sell his house due to excessive noise in the subdivision. My attorney advised me that if a seller loses a sale of a home due to noise caused by a neighbor, he may be able to sue that neighbor for tortious interference. Good luck.

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My hat is off to all these wonderful people who have done the wonderful light displays at their homes. One in particular that I find I like and the kids really like head south, on 129 past the land fill and there is  semi truck all lit up and the next  dirt road to the right about a mile, there is a beautiful light display set to music.

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Yes, I used to live on 53rd Road, which is now 52nd Road. I would like to know that someone was supposed to allow us to know what our road number would be in case of an emergency. We would say 18925 53rd road, they wouldn’t be able to find us. I think this needs to be addressed and taken care of. Please let people be aware when you change the street number and signs. That’s all I got to say.

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The ag only zoning was a bad idea then and in today’s economy , even worse. We have square miles of land that is not farmed and people willing to invest in the county but can’t or just won’t be allowed to. It is time to go to the state legislature and or courts to force this county into the year 2011. If we are unwilling to raise our income level, earn revenue, and allow free enterprise in order to function, then the state needs to stop the constant flow of welfare grants and force a realistic policy on Suwannee co. Hopefully Mr. Maxwell will persue ethics inquiries as to how this money is spent and how this place operates. It just may be time to go over the heads buried in the sand or maybe the manure pile

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Why not have trash, bottles, diapers at boat ramps, the stuff is strewn all over the roads too. How can that many lazy slobs be in one small area? No kiddin’, I just had a visitor ask me what was with all garbage on the roads. It seems we’re known far & wide for this unique charm.

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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.)