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Rockdale Citizen Poll for Feb. 17, 2013

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Staff Report (8555)

As of Friday, February 15, 2013
© Copyright 2013 Rockdale Citizen

The Citizen Poll is a weekly compilation of reader comments on subjects of local interest. The Citizen publishes as many comments as space allows. Comments, which may be edited for space or content, are published anonymously on Sunday. To submit a comment, call 770-483-7108, ext. 402, email: poll@rockdalecitizen.com or complete the online form.

"The Rockdale Jail Blotter uses more ink than any other section in the paper!"

"Who is manufacturing, paying far and using domestic Drone aircraft? This is money we are told that we don't have. Where is the money trail?"

"Ms Kito. The bad part is not about whether poor kids receive the HOPE scholarship. The messed up part is that poor people are paying for the HOPE scholarship. They are dumb. They put false hope in the lottery and are paying for the college of middle and upper class kids. Yes some poor kids get HOPE but the study I saw showed that 80 percent of the HOPE scholarship recipients had other means available to afford college. Don't get me wrong. I am happy for them. I just feel sorry for the hopeless dummies who are funding it. I find it very ironic that they are trying to get rich but instead are paying for rich folks to go to great schools. The rich stay rich. the poor stay poor."

"Still more Republicans are in favor of 're-branding' their party. Here's an idea they might consider. Buy the Hostess Bakeries' brand of treats. They have a wonderful collection of popular names. Even I could be tempted by the Twinkies, the Ho Hos and the Ding Dongs. But maybe I'm too late with my suggestion. They have a wonderful collection of Twinkies, Ho Hos and Ding Dongs already active in their current party. Hey! How about the Pillsbury Doughboy? What's more appropriate than a fat white man who giggles when you poke him?"

"My workload has greatly increased this school year as a high school teacher. There is so much extra stuff that the county is requiring that takes up my time. I love teaching and thinking about new ways to teach things, but I am swamped. If feels like all these extra things we are doing are not even being looked at by anyone. I thought to myself today, I could get all of this paperwork done better if I didn't have all these classes to teach. Isn't that what we pay the county office people for? So we can teach and they can do the other stuff?"

"What is the city and county policy on police officers talking and texting on cell phones while driving? I see it going on all the time. I think it should be against the law; nobody can do this without being distracted nobody!"

"I think scrap metal thieves and recycling centers who are involved in making money off stolen materials should have much stiffer penalties. I know that hunters who are caught poaching get their trucks and equipment taken immediately and permanently. I think the same thing should happen to copper thieves and air conditioner thieves. It's time we got serious about this."----

"Well, good ol' Rockdale Water Resources has ruined another street. Driven down College Avenue lately? That ridiculous abomination of a patch was brought to you by RWR. If nothing else displays their level of 'so what?' that sure does. They've mutilated streets all over the city and county; common sense and decency would seem to say the street should be repaired to as near as it was before the break, but they just throw in some cold patch and leave. It's just disgusting."

"FYI: If you have alphabet fridge magnets and morals, you probably wanna rethink inviting me over!"

"In Wednesday's paper there was an article on an issue with storm water repair. It was stated that they only had $200,000 a year to make repairs. I did not do badly in math but that equates to 5,000 houses in Rockdale County. I don't think so. Where is the money? Also am still waiting on article about snow plows."

"I would like to say thank you to the lady that has recently retired from Rockdale County Public Works Department. I have on many occasions called to report potholes or traffic lights out. She took my reports and made sure they were passed to the correct party. I have recently called and been either transferred or given other numbers. The number of the state Transportation Department did not want the report and wanted me to call a third number. What has happened to public service? It seems that now 'It's not my job,' to the forefront."

"I think we have too many lawyers in Washington. In law school, lawyers are taught one main lesson: Win. By any means, get the win. Too many of those guys in the same room is a bad combination. We have liberal and conservative lawyers running our government who only want their team to win and they are not solving problems and the country is divided. Doctors, engineers, scientists and business people by nature are our best and brightest at solving problems. We need more of them in politics. We are smart enough to solve all of our problems but everyone is too focused on their side staying in power. The lawyers are killing us."

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Comments

squay 3 months ago

I feel for you, "high school teacher." I, as a citizen, wish I could release you from all of the unnecessary paperwork and other duties which negatively impact your ability to teach. Teachers should be teachers, period. Administrators should be administrators which means THEY do the paperwork. Our school system is upside down in this area.

For Rockdale Citizen: Was a Citizens' Poll ever produced for 02/10/13?

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roots 3 months ago

To the Commenter about the Deputies and Officers driving while talking on the cell phone: I rode with my son (RCSO Road Deputy) many times and watched as he Talked on the Cell, the Radio, Checked Information on the Onboard Computer and was responding to a "Call For Help", all of this in concert, while dodging IDIOT Drivers that don't know to Yield and move to the RIGHT for EMERGENCY VEHICLES. I was amazed at his ability to Multitask in a fashion that most times is only seen in a Circus Act by Highly Talented Individuals. You, like many other people, most likely have a difficult time "WALKING AND CHEWING GUM" at the same time. These Law Officers and Deputies are not like most of you folk that are chatting with your BFF's as they perform their under appreciated and underpaid DUTIES. And did you know that sometimes they are in a "RADIO DEAD SPOT" and the Cell Phone is their only means of communication with the 911 operators or other Officers/Deputies?

Ya Know some people are just stupid and we all (almost all of us) know "YA CAN'T FIX STUPID".

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Elmo 3 months ago

Regarding the Lawyer comment...as long as we continue to ELECT mostly lawyers to government offices, we will continue to see legislation and laws "of the Lawyers, by the Lawyers, and for the Lawyers".

The drama of law, along with the media and movies, have elevated Lawyers to some pseudo-celebrity status, but sometimes people's fear of them outweighs the awe.

Back when Hillary Clinton (a lawyer) tried to get "Hillarycare" passed, Bill Clintom (alway er) made the statement that there were "too many doctors" in America; as most doctors were against Hillary's brand of socialized medicine it was a statement to intimidate the docs.

I think there are actually too many lawyers, as based on the number of personal injury lawyer ads on TV these days an "honorable profession" is morphing into a gaggle of ambulance chasers for profit.

Many media people are former lawyers, I guess to give the illusion that they arer therefore "credible", but alas most of their rhetoric is based on opinion and motivated by ratings, and is usually wrong in the end.

Too many lawyers in Washington? You're right, but, we just keep on electing them, don't we? If we want to return our country back to "of, for, and by the people", then start electing honorable people, everyday people, with only one motive...a free and strong America.

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roots 3 months ago

Do you know what 500 Lawyers at the Bottom of the Ocean is? -- A Good Start!!!!!

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Frustrated 2 months, 4 weeks ago

I would think it would be an EPA violation

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1ayk 3 months ago

Yoiur republican jab is cute. But, the democrats have aready cornered the market on Kool-aid drinkers, registered illiterate voters,freeloaders, morons and idiots. Like it has been stated before, the mind is a terrible thing to loose, but you got that one too!

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LoveIt 3 months ago

As long as the two local parties keep a strangle hold on whom they will support, regular other than lawyer, but educated people do not have a chance. Go to either one of the local party meetings and you will hear demonizing of "the other party" and very little focus on what this whole community needs for its future. Instead, what you hear is "us, us, us." We need people who represent the entire community. What will it take for the two local parties to learn the lesson?

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1ayk 3 months ago

As long as the liberals continue to follow blindly this administration and President there will always be a divide because the chip on their shoulder is huge.

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Elmo 3 months ago

You're close with your observation, however, the reality is that the democrats demonized the GOP, and the GOP demonizes the GOP.

The republicans act like crabs in a bucket, Every time one wants to crawl to the top, the others pull him/her back in.

Wisdom has been trumped by egos and money. Patriotism has become a byline to be used at election time.

America is devolving into political parties, unity be damned.

It reminds one of the old playground taunt when two guys are all squared off, but no one will throw the first punch, "one is scared, and the other is glad of it".

The GOP is so skittish, that if a democrat slams a republican, the rest of the republicans hump on their own guy to look "inclusive" and to be liked.

No Guts, no glory.

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1ayk 3 months ago

This community is a joke as it is being currently administered. Urban sprawl has and will always destroy thriving communities in the long run. Just look east. Deny it and you are only kidding yourself.

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roots 3 months ago

This County's Tax Base is going to drop by 50 to 75% and our Bond rating will follow close behind. Predict that within 15 years the County's population will have shrunk to about 25,000 people and there will be Hundreds of dilapidated houses, businesses, and industrial buildings. Life as we know it now in Rockdale will never recover or be the same as it is now.

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roots 3 months ago

This county will soon be referred to and known as the "Little Detroit" just east of Atlanta.

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MsKito 3 months ago

I cannot find a study anywhere that says 80% of HOPE students had 'other means' to pay for college. I did find a study that says that 70% of HOPE scholarships go to students from households earning LESS than $100k.

Let's look at 'other means' anyway -- what other means? Pell grants? Work-study programs? Loans? Because I do not believe for a minute that 80% have ready access to cash. Are you implying that HOPE scholarships should only go to students who cannot get grants or loans -- or just that it should only go to the children whose parents buy the most lottery tickets?

HOPE scholarship should be awarded on the basis of actual academic achievement, period. It was not designed to be an entitlement program. When someone is awarded an athletic scholarship, no one complains about whether or not the awardee's family has the money to pay for college; why should an academic award be any different?

Half of HOPE scholars lose their scholarship within the first year. Three-quarters of them lose it by senior year. (And this was even when it paid 100% of costs.) Even if there is a household income ceiling imposed (which there will likely be), and even if they decide to begin funding remedial classes again (which they quit doing, b/c of the HUGE numbers of students who entered college on the strength of inflated grades and without any real writing or mathematical skills), and even if they lower the minimum required grade point average from 3.0 to 2.0 (which some have suggested) -- I doubt these rates will change. In fact, they will likely go up, because for the most part, school systems in poorer neighborhoods graduate students with poor academic skills, poor discipline, poor work and study habits, and poor attitudes.

"The rich stay rich. the poor stay poor." It is time to put tired tropes like that away, because they are deluding and blatant lies. Every day, people rise out of poverty through work and ambition and self-improvement. Look at Farrah Gray, Chris Gardner, Dr. Ben Carson, Jeanette Walls, for starters. And there are just as many stories of people who inherited or achieved wealth and frittered it away. Continued poverty is not fate; it is the result of the individual's life choices and attitude. The HOPE scholarship -- regardless of who receives it -- cannot change that.

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