Is Anyone Else Sick of This? VENTING

Please don't be offended by this rant, I am just really angry after reading this...


http://www.msnbc.com/news/809063.asp?cp1=1


Cantor unhappy with victims fund

Says families of lost employees would be undercompensated

"NEW YORK, Sept. 17 — Cantor Fitzgerald, the firm that lost two-thirds of its headquarters employees in the attack on the World Trade Center, says the federal victims compensation fund would “greatly undercompensate” most Cantor families."
"The fund’s awards are based on a formula that includes earning potential and a non-economic payout for pain and suffering of $250,000. An additional $100,000 is added for a spouse or each dependent child, and life insurance and workers compensation payments are deducted."



Please don't get me wrong, I feel bad for those people but I really feel that they are going too far. Since the 9/11 fund was to help them, they should be grateful for the support, not whining for more. I am sorry they feel undercompensated, but it is not our responsibility to compensate them since we didn't bomb the WTCs. That is a lot of money to give someone, my family's income doesn't even come close to that. Are they trying to say that no one else in their family can't get another job after the money runs out? Are we expected to hold their hands for the rest of their lives? Maybe they should check out Dave's Dirt Cheap forum on how to learn to live with a lower income?

I have to agree with you on this. I feel very sorry for the victims and their families. I would think logically that you have to be careful of the money so everyone can get something. Last Wednesday (I think) I watched a woman screaming on the news about the compensation. I'm sure the families don't mean to come off this way but I see it as greed.

It has become the "new" American Way". Turn someone else's agony into money for YOU. I think it started in the U.S. Congress and spread throughout the country!!

I agree with you also. I also think that having it on the news so much doesn't let the people left to start to heal.
If someone called or put a picture up of my Mom and Dad all the time it would be unbearable. It is hard enough when you don't have to hear about it every day.

Yes. How many people die everyday because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time? The non-sensational deaths are the ones that tend to be undercompensated. Nothing will ever be fair about 9/11. It is my opinion that the victims families should graciously accept the help that is being provided to them and move on with their lives as best they can.

When Howie and I were eating breakfast out a week ago or so, we overheard a lady at the next table talking bitterly about this whole fund thing and the constant barrage of stories about the families. At first I was really ticked at her, because such venom was spewing out of her mouth. But later in the conversation it became apparant that she was the widow of a serviceman (fire, I think) who died on the job, and she had to fight tooth and nail to get the benefits due her and their children. I can see how she is hurting now, and how all this publicity about those others and the extra money they're receiving has been a big source of pain to her.

Without going into detail, since my puter has decided to keep me brief at times, I have to agree with the above, and have thought it since the beginning. I was taught it was crass to be so focused on money, and to argue and fight about it is poor form. It would make me feel like I was hawking my loved one's remains to get into the position of demanding money above what is absolutely necessary to recover and get back into action. In most cases, there is still a healthy family left. People of good breeding roll with the punches. Like the old song says, "pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again". I think we get a true measure of a person;s character when they find themselves in reduced circumstances or when they come into a lot of money. Class shows, be it low or high.

I certainly understand compensating the firemen and police because they had to go in there. But everyone else was just at work. Why does that give them the right to take millions from Government funds? My mom didn't get compensation when my dad was killed by a drunk driver in a car wreck. The driver had been convicted 7 times of drunk driving. He should have been locked up by then, or at least had his license PERMANENTLY suspended. I felt the govenment (state) was at fault, but they didn't offer to pay a dime. Maybe he didn't plan to kill my dad, but it sure as hell was inevitable.. Talk about venting......

This message was edited Thursday, Sep 19th 9:13 PM

Oh, man! I don't feel so bad now. As I watched the 9/11 memorial coverage that included a "town hall" meeting where many family members of victims vented their anger over this, I thought much of what you have all said. I'm really sorry for them, but life stinks. It's sad, but there are times when stuff like this happens and you have to sell that big house, buy a cheaper car and live more frugally. Social security survivors benefits isn't a lot of money, but it's not chump change when lumped in with a salary. No, not enough to afford the payments on that four thousand square foot house and the beamer, but enough to put a nice roof over your heads, a decent car to drive and food in your bellies.

Part of the deal is they have to agree not to sue the airlines. I don't agree with that at all. Why is our government covering the airline's butts? Why not let the victims's families fight it out with them in court? Yeah, maybe United and American will have to file for bankruptcy, but so what? They should have strengthened the cockpit doors a long time ago. Duh! When they go under, another airline will step in to take their place. AND, after winning their lawsuits and then trying to get that money out of a company in bankruptcy court, the victims's families will see that they should have kept their mouths shut and taken the gov't. deal way back when.

The main man who is heading up one group of victim's families (his website is at http://www.fixthefund.org ) also went so far as to say Congress is trying to tie this in with tort reform. What?!?! He thinks that the pain and suffering amount is based on figures from years ago, thus out of date now. He said that if they accept this deal, defense lawyers in courts from here on out will argue, "Why should my client have to pay two million dollars to Mr. Jones who was hurt when the air bag was defective? The 9/11 victims's families were only given $250,000." Where's his proof? He doesn't have any. That is only his opinion (which I think is shouted so loudly to make this whole deal sound more sinister than it really is).

But overall, I do feel sorry for them. They can't let go of the pain and anger that someone close to them has died, so they are taking it out on something else. Misdirected anger is worse for the person being angry than for the target. The angry person can't ever get over what caused that pain and anger until they realize what they're doing. Only then can they start the healing. That man and woman I saw the other day probably will have a lot of years of pain ahead of them ~ more than they have to have if they'd just open their eyes and take a long hard HONEST look at why they are fighting this so hard.

I feel very bad for the people that lost family on 9-11 but think about what the family gets when your husband, son or daughter is killed overseas in a war.

Amen,Lizh......

Exactly Lizh, and lots of the families of the 9-11 victims have the means to earn a wage too, and that will add nicely to what they are getting. After watching this for so long, I get the impression that they are hoping for their current lifestyle to go on without them having to do much. They have been offered a settlement, plus the majority of the families ARE able to get a job and support themselves beyond what they are being offered.

I am very sorry for their loss, and I mourn right along with them for what this has done to them and to our country, but turning this whole situation into a major financial gain is almost making a mockery out of it. It may be our countries responsibility to give them enough to get started again, but it is not our countries responsibility to set them up for life without them having to contribute to their well being. And, if a widow is left behind who cannot support herself for health reasons, I am all for helping her more. But, if they are able to help themselves somewhat, then I think they should be expected to do so.

There are many out there who have lost loved ones in the line of duty, and they didn't get the media coverage and benefits that are being offered to the 9-11 families, because they were single incidents on a small scale. They mourned their loved ones and picked up and went on all by themselves. I'm sure those families would have appreciated what is being offered to the 9-11 families.

I feel that they are forgetting that it was not our country that did this to them/us, so they should accept the offer our country has made and be thankful for it.