Sometimes it seems our lawmakers spend a lot of time majoring in minors. A case in point: Some of our lawmakers are once again pushing the idea that most state communications be published only in English.

It’s an embrace of making English the state’s official language. State law already does this, but the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Joshua McKoon, says it needs more teeth …. that it is not enforced.

Really? We don’t have more important issues to address?

What would be accomplished by having documents printed only in English? Better question: What problems would arise if we print only in English? That would be the crux of the issue.

Let’s face it. We have large populations of Hispanics, many of them vital to our economic well being. Just ask our farmers.  As well there are other nationalities that make up our great diversity. They are important to us, so why make their lives more difficult. Eventually they learn English.

 The greatest majority of Georgians speak English. That already makes it official in layman’s terms. More than making this a matter of  “officialdom,” we should be looking at something that is “functional.”

Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson boils it down to a good example of functionality.

For instance, he said by forcing drivers’ license tests to be conducted in English only, non-English speaking people would be discouraged to become licensed drivers and also would result in more uninsured drivers … already a problem.

Many other examples could be uplifted to combat this silly notion, but this one can serve as the poster child.

Someone might use printing costs as a rationale for this moment of  ‘majoring in minors.’ So then ask, what would interpreters cost? Henson also notes the possibility of costly legal challenges.

We might note that private businesses have little issue with addressing different languages. They seek to serve their customers and subsequently their bottom lines.  Should not that same logic apply to state government?

But then again, we are talking about politicians here, so maybe the logic that applies to good every day private business is lost on some elected folks.