W000272
Friday, November 09, 2001 8:37 AM
Terrorism
Attachment 1:
To The United States Justice Department
November 8, 2001
An article appeared in our local newspaper requesting public comment on a government program that will provide money to the relatives of those who died or were injured in the September 11 terrorist attacks.
Over $1 billion was collected for the victims of the World Trade Towers and the Pentagon and less than 20% has been distributed to the victims. Last night I read where the American Red Cross will only release approximately 20% of the total monies collected to the victims and will use the remaining 80% for future use and programs. This is an outrage. The money collected was for victims of this disaster and not to increase the coffers of the American Red Cross and the over 200 nonprofit organizations that collected money specifically to assist the victims.
To assume this terrorist attack is the government’s fault is ludicrous and I do not believe the taxpayers should feel an obligation to pay the victims’ families. Yes, my heart goes out to them for their loss and yes, I definitely feel they should be assisted, but not by taxpayer funds. Our government is expending money for our military and the war on terrorism which I applaud but the "nonprofit" organizations which collected over $1 billion should be the source of assisting the victims’ families.
Many victims of this tragedy were, I am sure, heavily insured via personal and company sponsored life insurance policies and therefore will receive substantial amounts of money. While not a replacement for loved ones lost, these funds should nevertheless cover many immediate and long-term financial needs. Those less fortunate will of course require monetary assistance but I feel the survivors should receive assistance elsewhere and the individuals organizations in New York City, especially the American Red Cross, should be forced to pay out the entire amount of funding received from average Americans who wanted to help.
The idea of compensating victims’ lawyers and whether people who are not satisfied with their payment can appeal is ridiculous. They should be thankful for any assistance and the lawyers should not in any way be involved. Who are they suing anyway? And what part of any monies collected are the attorneys receiving? Sorry, but I feel they are no better than the over 200 nonprofit organizations milking the system for their own betterment. Angry? Yes, I am. And I am a law firm employee!
Payments should be made out of nonprofit organizations’ funds to those truly in need (those that can prove their loss and inability to assist themselves). I am sorry for those who have received wages "under the table" and thus have no W2 to show wages lost. They have circumvented the tax system we pay into daily and I resent helping them and the corrupt businesses that hire employees in this way.
Individual Comment
Washington, North Carolina