N001445
Tuesday, January 08, 2002 11:25 AM
9/11 Victim compensation plan
While no amount of money will replace a loved one, I am totally appalled
that the families of the individuals that died are becoming millionaires
while charities throughout the country are having difficulty meeting the
needs of their constituents. Americans, by their very nature, have always
been the first to respond in times of tragedy and need. Everyone was
devastated by the terrorist attack... we're ALL victims.....does that
qualify us for financial assistance as well?
I can not believe that the individuals who responded to the pleas of the
tragedy intended that the "victims"relief fund would generate income making
the survivors rich! And the inequities of the pipeline......firemen are
worth more than Port Authority security officers....waiter's wives' want
more than $2.8 million dollars!!! How much is a life worth?...Or have we
decided that priceless, does indeed have a price?
And the audacity of the fact that this fund is perpetual. Please! Not
even life insurance policies guarantee income for life. What about the
funds that the families have received from the Fireman's fund, the Red
Cross and United Way, as well as, all of the other "charities" established
to help these "victims"? Shouldn't the distribution of these funds
included in the government handout instead of an addition to it?
Don't get me wrong.....I think that we should come to the aid of others -
not only during times of major tragedy, but whenever there is a need. But
it's criminal that these victims' receive allocations that far exceed
anyone's actual expectations. I don't know many individuals under the age
of 30 that earn a 6.6% annual pay increase...nor anyone under the age of 50
that get 5.1% annual increases.
Something is wrong here, when the American taxpayer is required to pay his
hard earned money to make millionaires out of a national tragedy. People
get killed all of the time....it's always tragic to those involved. How
are we going to compensate them?
I think that in its' haste to be generous (and to avoid law suits), the
government overstepped its' responsibility to ALL Americans. This issue
should be readdressed before final action is taken.
Individual Comment
Tampa, FL