W000179
Wednesday, November 07, 2001 12:21 PM
Sept. 11 Victims' Compensation - comment
I gather that the idea here is to buy off victims (and all those who will
pretend to be) from suing the airlines, etc. over deaths and injuries
resulting from the attacks on the U.S. Sept. 11. While I sympathize with
all those who are hurting I cannot understand why the taxpayers are going to
be required to pay this.
Americans, my family included, have already contributed to the Red Cross and
the other victims' relief funds MORE MONEY THAN THEY KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH
and the money is still pouring in if one can believe the news. No amount of
money can replace a dead loved one or heal a horrible injury; but the money
is there already to try to ease the suffering and buffer people against
financial setbacks.
As to the apparent goal of keeping the trial lawyers from bankrupting every
airline and insurance company on the planet to line their own pockets, there
is a far better remedy. The courts should properly and summarily dismiss
the lawsuits as they arrive. This was an act of war, nothing less. Because
of our collective complacency, we got hurt very badly; but is was OUR
collective complacency. The U.S. Government was complacent, the FAA was
complacent, we the people were complacent and we've paid a terrible price.
But it is ridiculous to allow the trial lawyers to try to single out any
"deep pockets" defendant they can find and try to rack up billable hours
extorting money from them (and, when all the dust settles, from all of us in
the form of ticket prices, increased insurance premiums, etc. etc.)
Do not make the September 11 tragedy any worse than it is. Let the
charities do their work - dismiss the frivolous lawsuits and let the
taxpayers try to keep their families going, being Americans, and maybe
keeping the whole economy from going down the drain.
Respectfully,
Individual Comment
Kansas City, Missouri