Governor Spitzer is hell-bent on building the LIRR's Third Track Mega-Project, relegating many communities into a state of suspended animation and uncertainty. At the same time, Governor Spitzer is hell-bent on giving driver's licenses to illegal aliens, relegating citizen and legal immigrant licenses in these communities with less than a valid form of identification for national security purposes.

Since Governor Spitzer is in such a giving mood, he should give aliens free MTA Metro-Cards in addition to New York State Driver's Licenses. As the governor has repeatedly assured us, driver's licenses would compel illegal aliens to obtain automobile insurance. MTA Metro-Cards could compel illegal aliens to fill the empty seats of the LIRR's "Reverse-Commute" trains and, as a consequence, make one of the dubious justifications for the LIRR's Third Track Mega-Project seem less of a distraction and diversion than it really is.

As an added bonus, the privilege of obtaining a driver's license would allow illegal aliens to enjoy the privilege of taking flying lessons. If they can't afford automobile insurance, they could use their free MTA Metro-Cards to get to their flying lessons. Unfortunately, it only takes just a few, or even 19 illegal aliens, to be less interested in insuring their vehicles or taking "reverse-commute" trains and more interested in learning how to fly airplanes into buildings.

Edward W. Powers