BOYCOTT CARPETS AND NEW CONSTRUCTION, BUT DON'T MESS WITH OUR CHICKEN!!

The Georgia legislature is in session, and that always provides fodder for columnists. After passing such critical legislation as defending "Merry Christmas", supporting Bible teaching in the public schools, and all sorts of bills that cost little but look good in election years, state politicians begin the second half of the session ready to tackle more meaty subjects like natural gas, eminent domain and what to do about the "wetbacks". (We never strive to be "politically correct" in this column.)

"Natural gas" has nothing to do with legislative gastric problems, but is rather a sweetheart bill for Atlanta Gas Light. The "eminent domain" issue, specifically how much power to give (or restrict) governments over private property, is also medium profile.

The immigration subject, however, is about as high profile as it gets, and it is pervasive statewide. It is as near as your local shopping mall, Wal-Mart, highway project, or construction site.

The Mexicans are everywhere!! And the politicians are going to make the most of it. After all, this is an election year, a BIG election year, for Governor Perdue as well as for all the other state politicos.

Georgia is not alone in its alarm over the invasion. Much of the concern is here in the South, but it stretches all the way to Minnesota. Georgia is especially hard hit, since our state has become the carpet and chicken capital of the world. Add to that the booming construction economy around Atlanta, and the attraction for illegal immigrants is like ants looking for a picnic.

We urge the Governor and legislature to do something! Clean up the carpet industry! Deport every construction worker who even "looks" Mexican! Profiling be damned!!

(A personal note: Please delay implementation of any legislation until after July 1. We have some construction and carpeting we want to complete this spring.)

But keep your grubby hands off our chicken!!

Georgia is the chicken capital of the world (nothing to do with our elected officials, but it might be appropriate). Our area, especially Franklin County, is the chicken capital of Georgia. Restrictions on immigrants, illegal or otherwise, could devastate our local economy.

Add to that the possibility of higher prices for chicken and eggs, and women all across Georgia will revolt. Roy Barnes thought the schoolteachers were a problem. If the price of chicken and eggs in the grocery stores were to follow the path of gasoline, the housewives would bury you, Sonny,.....not to mention the chicken-loving husbands who would join them.

Georgia politicians, you have been warned. We might make do without new houses and carpet, but fried chicken is another matter. Don't mess with our chicken.

(Ed. note to all Hispanics: In view of the violent Islamic reaction to a recent Danish political cartoon, we want to stress that this is satire, aimed at Georgia politicians, not Hispanics. In fact, some of our best friends are Mexican.)