P000306
Thursday, January 31, 2002 10:10 AM
Disappointing and Embarrassing!
Although my comments will arrive after the deadline for public comments, I feel it is vital to weigh in on this subject.
As I understand the victim's compensation fund, it is an opportunity for those who were harmed, either directly or indirectly, to be adequately compensated for this harm, in such a manner not to cause undue financial hardship. However, the alleged victims who already possess great wealth and benefits, are the very individuals who are willing to look a "gift horse in the mouth," as they say.
It is beyond my realm of thinking that the so-called wealthy victims are intent on gouging their fellow Americans. Worse, the fact that any policymaker would provide these individuals with an open forum, as well as an open checkbook, is also beyond.
Let us think about this dilemma in real terms. If my husband (and I am unmarried) were to die serving this country, the government is unwilling to provide me with up to one million dollars. However, if I am a wealthy financial investor who died in the world trade center, and I have a million or so dollars in a life insurance because I could afford it), and received substantial compensation from the many charitable funds for victims of 9/11, I am still permitted to request a million dollars in compensation from taxpaying Americans, who have lost loved ones in other crimes such as drive-by-shootings, murder, etc.
Does anyone see the hypocrisy in this decision? If the wealthy are financially okay, then compensating them is uneccassry. This fund is not about a person's future earnings lost, or increasing personal wealth, this fund is to ensure that those who have suffered do not suffer more by becoming homeless, uneducated, and losing any future that they might have had if this incident did not occur.
The only request that I make is that those wealthy enough to afford and sustain a lengthy lawsuit not tie up our court systems for what is simply an act of terrorism - a horrific crime. It is not the airline industry's fault, it is not the Clinton Administration's fault, and it is not the Bush Adminstration's fault; it was simply that of murderers committing crimes on a very large scale. That is it. Don't let these people convince the American public that they are now being victimized by the government. They do not have to sign paperwork relinquishing their right to sue. However, if they are making a choice to sue because they are not in need of any financial assistance - compensation, then that is their choice. Do not make it my choice.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE - USE MY TAX DOLLARS TO BENEFIT THOSE WHO HAVE THE LEAST CHANCE OF SURVIVING THIS CATASTROPHE.
Individual Comment