P000153
Saturday, January 26, 2002 9:38 AM
Compensation Fund
Dear Staff,
Below is a copy of a letter I sent my Senators from Michigan and the White
House. Thank you for your consideration.
Re: Payments to WTC and Pentagon Victims.
,
I would like to express my opinion about the proposed payments by the federal
government to the victims of the reprehensible terrorist attacks on the WTC
on Sept 11. As bad as this attack was, I do not believe that the federal
government should be making any payments to the survivors. I say this for
the following reasons-
â?¢ Up until this time, this type of thing has not been done before. I think
that this is a dangerous precedent, one that will be a huge financial load on
the American public in the future.
â?¢ Americans have responded in a huge way to charitable organizations who
have (or are going to) financially helped those people who have been
devastated. This is as it should be. My wife and I were glad to contribute
and it made me proud of my country to see the fantastic response. However,
when people see the federal government pay the huge proposed payments, next
time they are going to sit back and say, â??Let the government do it, my little
contribution is nothingâ??.
â?¢ This program will be abused in a big way. If some people know that the
government is going to make these payments, they will cheat their way into
the money. They would be less likely to take advantage of a charitable
organization.
â?¢ I can see this idea progressing in the future to include all sorts of
disasters. How Oklahoma City? High schools like Columbine? How about the
embassy bombings? How about those who lost a spouse in the Vietnam war or
WW2? Before you know it, the federal government will be paying off people
who lose a relative in a car accident. And why not? Losing a relative in a
car accident is terrible if it happens to an individual. There is no limit
to what might be included in the future.
â?¢ I have heard that there are individuals who were engaged to someone
killed, partners of same sex unions, and even friends of those killed who are
clamoring for their share. This is ridiculous, but it will happen.
â?¢ If the government is going to pay this, why should anyone do the
responsible thing like purchasing life insurance for my survivors?
I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your service to me as a
fellow American. I appreciate your efforts.
Sincerely,
Individual Comment