Peotone Airport rated G

The proposed Peotone Airport is like a game of cat and mouse—no, more like that of the fox and chicken house—as Will County officials and South Suburban Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. try to position themselves for the kill.

Picture a barnyard—the farm country in eastern Will County, Illinois.

Representing the free-range chickens whose freedom is in jeopardy, are the people of eastern Will County. The hens, roosters, and baby chicks are threatened, not only to be caged, but kicked out of the only yard they ever knew. The chicks own the yard. They are the law-abiding citizens who pay their taxes on time, don't believe in making trouble, and simply want to be left alone.

Most have spent their whole lives on the same ground. Some hatched from eggs in that very yard. They have grown up, laid eggs and raised broods of their own. Some of the chicks who live in the barnyard have come from other farms in faraway lands, but they love their yard and made it their own. They are all family now and don't want to be separated from the other chicks.

For a few years, the hens and roosters have noticed paw prints from the dreaded fox just outside the gate. Only recently did the fox dig beneath the fence to gain access to the yard, keeping the chicks scurrying to save their yard. And fox aren't the only predators after the chicks and their home. There are wolves and bear too.

The skulk of fox is led by two bipartisan leaders that usually tussle over territory. But in this case, they are both working together to gain control of the barnyard and all the chicks. The fox are public officials from Will County. One of the leaders is Jim Moustis, Republican County Board Chairman. The other is Larry Walsh, Democratic Executive Committee Chairman.

There are other predators beside fox. Its natural enemy, the wolf is also baying at the gate of the fence that encircles the hen house.

Jesse Jackson, Jr. is the lone wolf who wants to rule the barnyard. He wants to claim it for himself.

Both the fox and wolf are trying to control enough chicks so they can deliver for the big guy Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. He is the bear. He wants to reign supreme, but every four years, he is in jeopardy. If he doesn't get enough chicks, he could lose to the lion, the king of the jungle.

The bear has to keep a close eye on the fox and the wolves that in turn lord it over those pesky chickens. If he doesn't keep a tight reign on things, the fowl will try to take over the barnyard themselves. If that happened, new foxes and wolves that are beholden to the lion would reign.

The bear has to try to keep it all working to his advantage in order to rule the barnyard.

The big cats are already licking their chops because every four years, they too try to regain control of the barnyard. After all, it was guaranteed to them by the Constitution. The lion is the king of the jungle and would like nothing more than to take over this and all other barnyards in the state. The cats in the pride have funny names. One is called truth; another is justice. Another is called common sense.

For a time, the lion had control. One of the former bears, a guy named George Ryan, was a little too aggressive with the chicks. He lost his power over the barnyard and was eaten by the lions.

The lions work alone. They don't contract with fox and wolves like the bear does.

The moral of the story, don't let the foxes and wolves watch the chicken house.