Curse of the 9-11 Widows

[vraiblonde]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...rticle_id=403840&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=

During the feverish days following the attack, Congress established a billion- dollar compensation fund, and grieving wives became overnight millionaires.

The partner of one victim of the terror attack says: 'The public must assume that these families have been taken care of and everything worked out great, not realising that in many cases things worked out horribly.'

I don't understand why they were "compensated" in the first place. People die all the time - just because it's as a result of an act of war, does that mean the next-of-kin should get a payday? What about military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - what do their survivors get?

In my opinion, this sent a bad precedent because now EVERYONE will want some buckage when a family member dies. The Katrina people think THEY should be paid for their losses as well.

So now the US government has become an insurance provider. I don't understand this.

Read the whole story - it's incredible.

 

[Fallen]

What about military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - what do their survivors get?

Exactly. Some compensation, I could see, but millions of dollars? Thats just ridiculous. Our military families are the ones that deserve compensation, I can't believe how little they get.

 

[harleygirl]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...rticle_id=403840&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=




I don't understand why they were "compensated" in the first place. People die all the time - just because it's as a result of an act of war, does that mean the next-of-kin should get a payday? What about military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - what do their survivors get?

In my opinion, this sent a bad precedent because now EVERYONE will want some buckage when a family member dies. The Katrina people think THEY should be paid for their losses as well.

So now the US government has become an insurance provider. I don't understand this.

Read the whole story - it's incredible.

I agree with you.... Starting college funds for the children of the victims was a good idea, but it is unfair to the widows of our servicemen and women that do not get crap when they have lost a loved one.

 

[vraiblonde]

Starting college funds for the children of the victims was a good idea, but it is unfair to the widows of our servicemen and women that do not get crap when they have lost a loved one.

And it's also unfair to anyone who loses a spouse.

I mean, if something happened to your husband, would they set up a college fund for your kids?

 

[JOKER]

Some people believe that the GOVERNMENT should provide everything.
I do not subscribe to that theory.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

I don't understand why they were "compensated" in the first place.

Oprah had a 9-11 widow on many weeks back. The wife received millions of compensation and remodeled her home (which cost about a million to do) and went on a designer shopping spree of Jimmy Choo, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, etc.

Her only explanation was that it was her "relief" from pain.

 

[Chasey_Lane]

Some people believe that the GOVERNMENT should provide everything.
I do not subscribe to that theory.

A lot of the funds came from people like you and me. Just everyday people working for their families.

But in theory, if you give to charity, it shouldn't matter how it is spent. Your heart was in it for the right reason and you cannot control what other people will do with donations.

 

[Dixie]

I confess I only skimmed. Did I misunderstand that those who took the money were prevented from suing the government/airlines? Did the government authorize the funding w/this understanding?

 

[SamSpade]

Some people believe that the GOVERNMENT should provide everything.
I do not subscribe to that theory.

It's the difference between the folks of New Orleans and the folks of say, Galveston - when the hurricanes came. The people of Galveston, no strangers to hurricanes, got their butts out of Dodge in a hurry - bicycle, bus, rickshaw - they got out by any means necessary. They knew only one person was gonna save their ass - themselves. The folks of New Orleans sat around largely and waited for the authorities to either come and get them or tell them where to go.

Yeah, I realize this is a bit of a simplification - but there have BEEN storms hitting some very large cities over the last few years, and people have managed to get out of town. If a huge storm was coming my way and I had no car, I'd walk, run, bicycle - and I'd tie my family to my backside. I would expect that if I depended on the government to save me, I'd still be standing under three feet of water when they showed up.

I work with folks like this. You know, every so often they talk about furloughs and layoffs in the federal government - and my first thought during those times is, where will I find work? During those times, I overheard people saying "they gonna pay us anyway, so why don't they keep us here?". I could barely believe it; their reaction was sheer inertia. Mine was, how will I save my own azz? I wrote up my resume and renewed my profiles online - they were considering how they'd appeal to Uncle Sam for benefits. Couldn't believe my ears.

 

[baileydog]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/li...rticle_id=403840&in_page_id=1879&in_a_source=




I don't understand why they were "compensated" in the first place. People die all the time - just because it's as a result of an act of war, does that mean the next-of-kin should get a payday? What about military personnel killed in Iraq and Afghanistan - what do their survivors get?

In my opinion, this sent a bad precedent because now EVERYONE will want some buckage when a family member dies. The Katrina people think THEY should be paid for their losses as well.

So now the US government has become an insurance provider. I don't understand this.

Read the whole story - it's incredible.

I was without electric for 3 whole days, Im still waiting for my FEMA trailer and debit card. I was a refugee of Ernesto.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

The people of Galveston, no strangers to hurricanes, got their butts out of Dodge in a hurry - bicycle, bus, rickshaw - they got out by any means necessary.

Actually, when it came to Hurricane Rita, i was a slow hurry. In some cases, the bike got out quicker than the car. On that note, if I had to - I would ride a bicycle out of an area if I could not drive out on the roads safely in an evacuation and make an attempt to get to the nearest Amtrak station.

I think someone else might be able to answer but I had heard that Amtrak shut down operations in New Orleans before the storm hit.

First thing they preach to you in Florida is don't depend on the government, you're probably gonna be on your own for 72 hours. What happened in the first 24-60 hours with Katrina, I'm not so concerned about. The fact that they weren't there after that concerned me.

As for New Orleans, they whined and moaned about the storm and it was a week or two after the storm hit and federal aid hadn't gotten to Mississippi because everyone was so concerned about New Orleans. Guess who had more short-term and long-term physical damage: Mississippi.

 

[AndyMarquisLIVE]

I was without electric for 3 whole days, Im still waiting for my FEMA trailer and debit card. I was a refugee of Ernesto.

Victims of Hurricane Andrew did not get debit cards or money at all nevertheless enough for them to live off for years. Nor did victims of Isabel or Wilma. And guess which hurricane was stronger.

KATRINA - Category 3 / ANDREW - Category 5.

Anyone here lose their homes to the La Plata tornado? Government come out and build a fancy new home for ya? Don't think so.

And what about those FEMA Debit Cards in Houston used to ge into strip clubs: "I lost all my clothes, now you lose all your clothes."

Money to recover from your losses is one thing, but this is another. It's bull****!

 

[LordStanley]

Some people believe that the GOVERNMENT should provide everything.
I do not subscribe to that theory.

thats because your not a communist

 

[lostintheusn]

if a serviceman or woman dies because of an act of war the family should be entitled to receive up to $400K depending on the life insurance program the service member has elected. the designated beneficiary is to receive that money. i could be wrong and maybe i am but i hope not as that is how its been explained to me all these years.

 

[kwillia]

if a serviceman or woman dies because of an act of war the family should be entitled to receive up to $400K depending on the life insurance program the service member has elected. the designated beneficiary is to receive that money. i could be wrong and maybe i am but i hope not as that is how its been explained to me all these years.

Does pay get deducted to cover the cost of the serviceperson's life insurance election?

 

[lostintheusn]

yes it does depending on the amount of coverage elected

 

[vraiblonde]

yes it does depending on the amount of coverage elected

Then what the military offers is akin to normal life insurance, just like civilians have.

This 9-11 fund is something different. I would assume that many of those widows not only received money from the government, but they got their regular life insurance payout, too, if they were insured.

 

[Mikeinsmd]

First thing they preach to you in Florida is don't depend on the government, you're probably gonna be on your own for 72 hours. What happened in the first 24-60 hours with Katrina, I'm not so concerned about. The fact that they weren't there after that concerned me.

As for New Orleans, they whined and moaned about the storm and it was a week or two after the storm hit and federal aid hadn't gotten to Mississippi because everyone was so concerned about New Orleans. Guess who had more short-term and long-term physical damage: Mississippi.

You see here the differences between Republican leadership and Democratic leadership!!