If the people of Georgia have not already decided that their governor has gone off the deep end, this should do it.

It's common knowledge that Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue has tried everything but a bucket brigade to get metro Atlanta more water from Lake Lanier than it legally deserves. A federal judge already has told Georgia that it has three years to work out a water-sharing plan with Alabama and Florida.

Georgia's congressional delegation has told the governor he could expect no help from them.

Private stake-holders in a water-distribution decision have organized to seek a solution of their own. Perdue, meanwhile, remains convinced that Georgia could get the judge's order overturned; thus, he has pushed

ahead an appeal.

And now Perdue is putting his money, or at least Georgia's money, on the line.

Last week, the Associated Press reported that after the attorney who was handling Georgia's appeal had to withdraw over a possible conflict of interest, Perdue hired former U.S. Solicitor General Seth Waxman. Waxman will be paid $855 an hour.

You read that right.

Like Alabama, Georgia has double-digit unemployment, teachers have had to take unpaid furloughs, social services are being cut and banks are failing.

What sort of message does this send to those barely hanging on? And what sort of message does it send Alabamians and Floridians who want the matter settled reasonably — and soon? But look on the bright side, Perdue says.

He got Georgia a 10-percent discount. Waxman usually gets $950 an hour for such work. Such a deal.