We left the house earlier this afternoon in an attempt to beat the dinner rush. So did a lot of other apparently very hungry people. Truthfully, I did not know where the restaurant was located other than some very vague description on the company website. We drove around for twenty minutes once we got in the general area and finally figured out that the location was in a mall we kept passing.

There were tons of cars outside. When we got into the mall, the line stretched all the way around the corner. It never slowed down and as we were leaving at the end of our meal, it was almost twice as long as when we first arrived. The people in the line were nice, polite and engaging. Many were anxious to talk about what brought them there. The common theme: Freedom. Freedom from elected officials condemning other people’s right to freely express their beliefs and convictions. Freedom from being bullied by an incredibly small minority with an incredibly big voice in the main stream media.

Some interesting observations:

• It seemed pretty spontaneous and unorganized, yet everybody came for the same reasons. Why else would you stand for an hour or more in line for a sandwich?
• There was no main stream media press present. I wonder how many will come to the planned protest on Friday to record the “Kiss In” meant to be disruptive to people’s livelihoods.
• Everybody was polite and patient. Some were heard to say that even if they ran out of chicken, they would buy napkins to show their support.
• At our location, there were signs and security guards that refused people permission to take pictures. If you got caught, you would first be asked to stop and second be escorted out. After a few hours, more security guards showed up to help.
• The food was good and even on a day when I think we surprised the heck out of them, they did a great job keeping up. No short cuts, no smaller portions, just good plain honest food.

I already liked Chick-fil-A for the great comfort food they offer at a nice price. When I travel, I always keep an eye out for them. I will make it a point to use their website now when I do. Nice people with a great product. It doesn’t get much more American than that.

Back in the dark days of the first Depression, politicians that wanted people’s votes used to promise a chicken in every pot. I suppose the idea was that people were so hungry for a decent meal, they would vote for someone who gave them something to eat. Obama and his folks have been promising the equivalent gesture for three and a half years without telling you that it was your neighbor’s chicken you were being promised.

My vote this year involves chicken too.

I will vote for anyone who ensures that people who make a decent chicken sandwich have the freedom to openly compete for my business with honest food at a reasonable price without fear of some government hack threatening their ability to do so. In some ways, it seems sort of queer that in a time where jobs are scarce and the economy is barely holding on by a thread anyone would threaten a business owner for having a personal belief. We live near the country where large chicken farms provide food for some and work for others. On very hot summer days when we ride through the country near those farms, the smell reminds me of politicians that do that as I roll my window up as fast as I am able.

As we left the mall, I yelled out “God Bless America”. Lots of folks clapped.

Mister Mac

Note to the White House: There were a lot of people waiting to exercise their rights without government interference… I would suggest ya’ll sharpen up your resumes. Not a single person there had a good thing to say about the current administration.