April 20, 2004

In a state currently ranked 48th out of 50 in the amount of open space available, it is disturbing to hear Gov. Blagojevich announce a ''holiday'' from funding crucial open space preservation plans in Illinois.

Many communities, especially in suburban Chicago, are experiencing tremendous population growth. Funds for preserving space for parks, recreational facilities and open space are sorely needed to help balance increased development with places for our children to play and protection for environmentally sensitive areas.

The Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development Program was created to preserve land and provide funding for recreation purposes for future generations. The program is a dedicated funds program financed through the real estate transfer tax that provides up to 50 percent funding assistance to government units for acquisition and/or development of public parks and open spaces. These are not funds generated through property taxes.

Zero-funding the open space lands acquisition and development program diverts money from a dedicated fund for one purpose to the state's General Revenue Fund, allowing the governor to spend this money for any project or program he wishes. We feel it would be irresponsible to cut all state money and leave the burden of funding these important projects on local taxpayers.

It is expected in times of economic hardship that spending must be cut and sacrifices will be made, but we should not completely abandon funding for a program so vital to the future of our state. We hope the governor will reconsider this proposal and find a way to keep the program from being shut out in this year's budget.

State Rep. Patti Bellock,

(R-Westmont);

State Rep. Eileen Lyons,

(R-LaGrange)

They'll drive anyway

State representatives have decided to keep undocumented immigrants ''under the radar'' by voting to deny them the opportunity to get a driver's license [metro story, April 1]. The legislators' negative response will perpetuate the thriving black market for obtaining a phony driver's license. The lawmakers' decision means that hundreds of thousands of Illinois drivers remain invisible to society -- unless, of course, we get into a fender bender with them. Then, all of a sudden, proper documentation becomes an issue, and all we want to know and care about is if they have auto insurance. They don't, because a prerequisite to getting insurance is having a valid driver's license.

Isn't it in our best interests to know the true identities of the folks driving alongside of us? Don't we want to be assured that the person is certified by the state to be on the highways and streets of Illinois?

Undocumented immigrants are on the cusp of joining mainstream America. Already, banks in Illinois and many other states accept alternative identification for opening bank accounts. The bankers don't care if the undocumented have a Social Security number or not. All they want is for depositors to ''show them the money.'' And they have the blessing of the U.S. Treasury Department to boot!

Also, the Internal Revenue Service does not seek a Social Security number as long as the undocumented comply with the current regulations for filing federal income tax returns. Compliance becomes a no-brainer in this venue.

Now comes Gov. Jeb Bush of Florida publicly announcing on April 5 that he supports allowing the hardworking undocumented to get a driver's license in his state.

The Illinois House legislators just don't get it.

John A. Viramontes,

Belmont Cragin

No licenses for law breakers

What part of the word ''illegal,'' as in ''illegal aliens,'' don't our governmental leaders understand? Why do they propose giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens, when we really should be enforcing our immigration laws and deporting these individuals?

Here's a quote from Florida Gov. Jeb Bush: ''We shouldn't allow them to come into our country to begin with. But once they're here, what do you do? Do you say that they're lepers to society? That they don't exist? It seems that a policy that ignores them is a policy of denial.'' What kind of logic is that?

Then I guess we should admit that illegal drug use can't be stopped, so let's skip the denial and open some cocaine and heroin dance clubs to capitalize on this demographic!

Sen. Rudy Garcia, another Florida legislator, says: ''Our roads and streets will be safer because of this,'' adding that the sprawling nature of most Florida cities makes owning a car a necessity, and that the state, by not giving illegal immigrants licenses, "almost tells these folks to break the law, because that's the only way they're going to be doing anything.'' MY guess is that people in the United States illegally don't need to be told to break the law -- they've already mastered that skill!

One last point: It has been reported that 1,600 illegal aliens enter the United States daily just through some southwest U.S. Indian reservation. How many more come through at different points? Do we really think that giving driver's licenses, jobs and social services to illegals is the best way to stem the tide? It sounds like more of an invitation!

Larry Krivak,

Elk Grove Village

Free Hong Kong

While the world is preoccupied by the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, I applauded your editorial April 12, ''China's reins strangle Hong Kong.'' There are several hot spots in the world that can erupt out of control. Hong Kong is one of them.

Two months ago when China demanded a revised basic law that will restrict freedom of speech and meetings, 500,000 Hong Kong residents took to the streets to show their displeasure. China retreated a little and promised to revisit the issue. Now China makes it clear that it will not allow the 7 million residents in Hong Kong to choose their own leaders.

Hong Kongers had enjoyed significant democracy under British rule. In fact, the agreement to return Hong Kong to China promised the status quo for the next 50 years, allowing Hong Kong self-governance under ''one country, two systems.'' Hong Kong was a thriving economy and was a business center for the world. This is no longer true.

The free world now has learned another lesson: That China is [determined] to stem the freedom and democracy in Hong Kong.

Tien C. Cheng, M.D., Gurnee

Cutting our losses in Iraq

Whether we wanted to or not, the United States is now fighting a religious war against Islam. Historically, this kind of Islamic guerrilla war can go on indefinitely. Americans must ask themselves: Do we really want to fight a no-win religious war in Iraq?

Make no mistake: Sunni and Shiite guerrilla troops are in open insurrection over most of Iraq. Wahhabi suicide bombers are operating in the rest of the country.

There are now only two ''exit strategies.'' U.S. forces can scramble out of Iraq as they did out of Vietnam. We can try to ''save face'' by delaying the exit. The result will be that many U.S. troops will be trapped and die in Iraq.

''Staying the course'' is not courageous act; it is suicidal.

Irwin D. Bross,

Amherst, N.Y.

Refresher course

I am amazed at the gall the Republicans and media have in calling to question why President Bill Clinton did not do more to wipe out al-Qaida. Unfortunately, at the time he was rather busy being impeached by the partisan Congress who considered a sexual indiscretion such a high crime that issues such as defending our country were forced to take a back seat. In fact, if you remember correctly, even the measured responses by Clinton were met with assertions by these super patriots that he was trying to ''wag the dog'' his way out of the impeachment debacle.

The Republican Party has much to answer for, including making it politically impossible for Clinton to respond in a robust manner to the terrorist threat. Even with the constant haranguing by the Republicans, Clinton did more to protect us from al-Qaida than President Bush did with the whole Congress behind him.

Marshall Stern,

Rogers Park

No turning back now

Has Bush gone mad to suggest a cease-fire? This is only done when one is in a position of weakness. He is telling the terrorists that, although we are not weak, we are weak-willed. He should be leveling Fallujah, not asking for a cease-fire.

Bush is not living up to the Bush Doctrine. He is showing the terrorists that he lacks integrity. They will know that we won't defend ourselves. I fear that this is the end of the United States.

Jack Crawford,

Aspen Hill, Md.