Rockdale Citizen

The Rockdale Citizen Poll is a compilation of opinions submitted by readers. These opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Citizen newspapers. If you agree or disagree with something you read here, you may respond by e-mailing poll@rockdalecitizen.com. Please remember that the Citizen Poll is not a forum for comments about candidates seeking elected office.

"Well CEO and Chairman Oden, 2 robberies in 2 days. One at Advanced Auto Parts and another at GNC, and this is on top of all of the bank robberies and car jacking (attempt) at Ingles. How is the diversity in our 'Perfectly Positioned' County in which you want people to 'shop Rockdale' working for you? Call it what you want but the facts are all there. You couldn't just be Chairman, you had to be CEO also. Now take responsibility!

"What changed at the Cherry Blossom Festival? I really noticed that many small businesses did not return. There were less businesses represented. Something must have changed in how they submit because many businesses left. It was not worth it."

I feel really let down by this newspaper. Why can't you hold the police and DA more accountable? In the last year, the number of robberies have gone through the roof. Please ask them the following questions: 1. What systemic adjustments are being made regarding the prevention of robberies in this county? 2. What pro-active approaches are being taken regarding determent? Is anyone at the police or Sheriff's office trying to predict the most easiest targets and prevent them from being robbed. (hint: start with the banks) People, we are on the list! Conyers is being targeted by robbers. I feel like the paper just sits back and is emotionally uninvolved and just putting in the stories as they come out. The Rockdale Citizen could take an active role in this and other problems, but you are just over there trying to hit deadlines."

"Dear Mr. Police Chief and District Attorneys, you are being beaten by the robbers here in your own town. I do not want you to take this comment negatively. I merely mean it as a wake up call. You have to try something different. We have all been in your position in one way or another. You have to rise up. Pull your best people into your offices and come up with a plan that is different than what these robbers are used to seeing. Something smarter and tougher. If you have to go visit towns that have been successful in this, do it. You signed on for this job and we are counting on you to do it. If you need the community, we will back you. We have good, hard-working people in this town that are being harassed. Help us."

"Arizona, here I come. The Arizona-style legislative initiatives would do serious harm to our economy. Do we have a bunch of copy cat babies in our Legislature?"

"Say "NO" to the new Transportation SPLOST introduced by the general assembly. Why should you tax yourself for projects in Atlanta and DeKalb. We have been waiting 20 years for the Dept. of Transportation and GDOT to widen Sigman Road from Exit 78 to Exit 84. The GDOT has cheated us out of our Gasoline Tax Money for the last 20 years. Let the General Assembly man up and raise Georgia. Say no Gasoline and Diesel Taxes to a level to support the need for new roads and bridges and Public Transportation. I don't go downtown and am switching to electric golf cart."

"I just returned from the Rockdale County Tag Office with my new license plates. These are the ones I choose in place of the ones I used to have a new extra $35.00 per tag. I now know why, this new tax is in place ... for it is the only reason I can understand this new tax. We are in hard times, so are the criminals in our jails. They have to keep them employed making license plates for us tax payers, I mean why watch TV all day. It keeps them employed and still at work and keeps us from paying more tax. I mean, it only makes sense that we keep the criminals employed during hard times too, choose not to pay the extra tax and get a new license plate to boot. For all you folks that have special tags ... stand by for the new $35 tax or free new license plates what is in your pocket? ..."

"I am trying to decide what gang to join. I have narrowed it down to IBN, GD, or the Street Boyz. My wife doesn't really care. I need a gang that has good job connections and maybe scholarship opportunities for my children. Because of course, they will be legacies. I want them to join as soon as possible so they wont get in trouble going around false-claiming."

"To the Mayor and City council of Conyers. You don't have the Back Bone to get rid of the City Manager."

"The condition of this county can be depressing, but I have been convicted just now. We need to pray for this county and our leaders. I have seen a lot of negative comments in here about our leaders and even written some. But I am convicted to get on my knees and pray for these people. They are truly in hard jobs and we don't really need to add to it by railing on them all the time. Please take a second and join me when you read this. Pray that our good leaders will make the right decisions in the upcoming week and that the selfish and greedy ones will be found out and forced to step down. Stay strong Rockdale."

"Do you remember in every disaster movie there is the annoying character who is unmotivated to do anything constructive and just keeps repeating "It's useless, were all gonna die!" That is how I look at all these lames that keep making the DeKalb comments or "I'm moving out." comments. It does not help our situation. If you have good ideas, state them clearly and concisely in this poll so that others can see them and agree and maybe we can turn them into positive action."

"To the person who writes like he's black (Sho' nuff, etc) whether you are black or white, you have hit upon it: education is the key, and welfare is a system that, if not designed to keep people down, in fact does so. It takes otherwise disposable income from working people (black, white or other) and provides but a poor standard of living, but one that unfortunately so many people (black, white and other) who have little or no ambition are content with, and in fact have come to think they're entitled to. Welfare should be a temporary thing in most cases, not a generation to generation life style. Considering the money we spend on education, we should have the largest and brightest populace in the world, but unfortunately we've dumbed education down, taken discipline out of it, and made our schools not much more than day-care centers. To the guy who said Republicans are acting like Democrats over Libya, our comments are on target, and it shows that politicians have a them versus us mentality and they try to cultivate this in us. There are no perfect people, so we can't vote for a perfect candidate, but need to look at, and demand, substance not appearance and rhetoric from our politicians. The Republican Party is going to self-destruct if they don't move more to the middle and quit being a rich-man, big business bunch of blowhards. Finally, about the continued comments about the ambulance at Waffle House, did the observant person who first reported this actually get some helpful information, such as the unit number, date and time, paramedics names, etc. If so, someone needs to call the EMS and find out what, if anything, really happened. It's ludicrous to think that individuals who have to spend money on school, licensing, etc. would be so stupid as to do something like this where the whole world could see, although stranger things have happened, but it would be interesting to hear from the alleged EMTS and the patient."

"To the person who commented about "crybaby" ... that I am not! I have had my house for more than 10 years, work everyday, never got government help, etc. I didn't buy an overpriced house that I could not afford. Work has slowed down and my interest is to high. So, if I am crying than, I hope someone in the mortgage company that I have will listen! I am not an entitled person, I have paid for what I have. I am not looking for free this and that. That's not how I was raised."

"Right now it is Saturday morning, April 2. All of the criminals are sleeping one off or in the process of waking up and deciding how they are going to get dope money for today or the rest of the week. What will prevent them from choosing Conyers? I tell you what will, tough, smart, conscientious citizens, tough cops, prosecutors and judges. Nothing else. Where do you fall in? Are you a sitting duck or are you ready? Are you prayed up? Are you looking around? Properly equipped? The criminals are here. It's not a matter of if you see a criminal. Only when. Be tough and smart and lets work together."

"Did you know that if you sell your house after 2012 you will pay a 3.8 percent sales tax on it? That's $3,800 on a $100,000 home. Under the new health care bill all real estate transactions will be subject to a 3.8 percent Sales Tax. Why is it in the Healthcare Bill? How do real estate taxes relate to healthcare? Just thought you should know the real estate sales tax will go into effect 2013 as part of the Healthcare bill. The bulk of Obama's new taxes don't kick in until 2013. President Obama hopes you won't notice the increased taxes until he is re-elected. Does this stuff make your November 2012 votes more important? Oh, you weren't aware this was in the Obamacare bill? Guess what, you aren't alone. There are more than a few members of Congress that weren't aware of it either. So, is this President Obama's "change you can believe in" -- having legislation rammed down the throats of Congress without giving them time to find out what all was in it? Remember Nancy Pelosi said "We have to hurry up and pass this bill so we can find out what's in it?" She knew it wouldn't pass if Congress had time to read it before she forced them to vote on it."

"To the person who commented on hitting someone, getting in front of them: I would be very careful if I were you, if you hit a vehicle from behind and you are speeding, or if you are to yield to oncoming traffic (such as on the interstate) and you don't, the ticket and responsibility for any accidents as a result will have your name on them. I learned this lesson the hard way and spent $3,900 in attorney's fees only to lose in court."

"To the teacher concerned about students with tattoos... do you know how many teachers have tattoos under those clothes Ha!! This is one of the last things to be worried about as far as many of todays students are concerned ... Also ... do not judge by appearance... some of the scariest students look like the girl/boy next door ... some of the nicest look goth or have piercings tats etc ..."

"I would like for all of you to know how our legislator is looking out for us the little guy. They past a bill which requires a person wanting an antique car tag to pay a $35.00 fee. They pasted another bill where by you can not renew a gun permit. You must reapply and go through the same expensive process. I could not be in the legislator and vote for such bills. What are they thinking."

"I would like for all of you to know how our legislator is looking out for us the little guy. They past a bill which requires a person wanting an antique car tag to pay a $35.00 fee. They pasted another bill where by you can not renew a gun permit. You must reapply and go through the same expensive process. I could not be in the legislator and vote for such Bills. What are they thinking."

"Construction workers and contractors share info and/or brag about jobs. So do pest control people, mechanics, factory workers and salesmen. The point is, people in the same industry talk to each other and communicate about opportunities. Right now, thieves, robbers, and other criminals have found out about Conyers and are hitting us hard. They are hanging out right now talking about the easy pickins out here. All of these guys in the past 2 weeks have gotten away and are bragging about it to their robber friends. Anything we do will be too late to stop what has happened but we need to get on the stick. We need Cameras and road blocks up where we think criminals are driving. I'm Okay with it. My insurance is paid, I am a citizen, and I don't have any outstanding warrants. Go for it."

"Great Job Rockdale County High School Winterguard on your achievements at SAPA Championships on Saturday. You all are a fine example of how hard work and dedication pays off. Congratulations on your gold medal!"

"Thanks to the RCPO who watched a car fail to yield (and cause another car to slam on its brakes to avoid an accident) and did not bother to go after the offender. I guess that's one of the reasons Rockdale is such a safe, inviting place these days."