Why did the chicken cross the road? In Chicago, it was to
get to Logan Square. Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and Alderman "Joe" Moreno
are turning the area into the city's first chicken sanctuary. In case you spent
last week on the dark side of the moon, let me explain: Chicago's rulers are
resisting Chick-fil-A's plans for a new restaurant due to its corporate
opposition to homosexual marriage.
Moreno vowed to keep Chick-fil-A out of his district. Emmanuel
was a bit more reserved, content to say the company doesn't measure up to "Chicago
values." Now, let's remember that Rahm is trumpeting the values of the
nation's most corrupt political city.
How can Chick-fil-A reflect "Chicago values", provide free sandwiches
to every Chicagoan who rises from the grave on Election Day?
All kidding aside, Emmanuel and Moreno are perfect examples
of what's wrong with the political culture. Good government doesn't force businesses
to check corporate beliefs at the city limits. Their attitude should serve as a
warning to all businesses; if you want access to Chicago's marketplace you must
adopt approved positions on social issues. It sounds like bullying because it
is bullying, and the politicians practicing it are unworthy of the public trust.
Let's get one thing straight; Chick-fil-A is discriminating
against no one. The company serves and hires both heterosexuals and
homosexuals. Emmanuel and Moreno are the true bigots. Their opposition to
Chick-fil-A isn't based on anything but the company leadership's personal
beliefs, beliefs that electoral results suggest
are mainstream.
Suppose another city adopted Chicago's policy in reverse, refusing
to allow companies that support homosexual marriage -- like Nike, Levi's, and
Microsoft -- to conduct business in their municipalities? Would Emmanuel and
Moreno support that decision? Please! They'd be tripping over each other in a
mad rush to condemn that city's abuse of government power.
Emmanuel says Chick-fil-A's proposed restaurant would be a
"bad investment" because "it would be empty." If he really
believed his rhetoric he would put Chick-fil-A's building permits on the fast
track. Politicians love being right, and Emmanuel would look like a prophet if
Chick-fil-A was forced to close the restaurant due to a dearth of customers. Of
course, as much as politicians love being right they fear being wrong even
more. And evidence suggests that Emmanuel doesn't know what he's talking about.
2011 was the 44th consecutive year Chick-fil-A's
sales increased, reaching $4.1 billion and marking a 13-percent rise over 2010.
The company operates more than 1600 stores and will open another 77 during 2012.
Since Chick-fil-A restaurants aren't sitting empty elsewhere it's unlikely they'll
sit empty in Chicago.
If Emmanuel and Moreno prefer political correctness to
private enterprise, fine. There are plenty of places -- like the Chicago suburb
of Lombard -- that would welcome Chick-fil-A with open arms. The company should
take its restaurant plans, and resulting tax revenues, there. Besides, with
leaders like Emmanuel and Moreno, Chicago has enough clucks.
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