W000054
Tuesday, November 06, 2001 9:55 AM
fund & charities
the fund is the taxpayer bailing out the airlines, which would go under
if they had to defend, and lose, lawsuits over the crash.
the charities are donations from citizens for the suffering of their
fellow citizens.
these are two different issues. one should not be subtracted from the
other.
the major question is the charities-if their disbursements are unequal,
based on access, knowledge of the system, membership in a certain
group-then we see some people getting more than others. and that will
happen-police and firefighters have certain monetary donations for those
killed in the line of duty, which ordinary stockbrokers and shoe shine
men do not. stockbrokers have better insurance than shoe shine men-so
there will be inequities in the disbursement of charitable funds. some
charities had structure in place to handle the donations, some have to
start from scratch, with more errors and costs.
the fund should be disbursed equitably, whether an equal sum to all
families, or by need(a bigger problem-if you have a $300000 mortgage and
no insurance, and another guy has a $65000 mortgage covered by
insurance, should the one who prepared for his demise responsibly get
less than the spendthrift?)
the charities should be separate, but more effort made to be sure all
families are contacted and advised of ALL the funds set up.
Individual Comment