by Dean Hartwell
The United States government recently started to pay the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks. The first awards have averaged about $1.3 million per family, with some receiving as much as $3 million.
While the idea of helping those who suddenly lost a loved one sounds appealing, the policy of using taxpayer’s money to pay victims is flawed. In the absence of clear proof that the Bush Administration negligently or deliberately failed a duty to protect the victims, it should not pay the families any compensation.
This policy is inconsistent with other policies for victims. Numerous people lose their lives to acts of violence on a daily basis. Yet, their families receive nothing from the government. Also, the government sends soldiers overseas for war or peacekeeping efforts and many of them die without compensation to their families unless they chose ahead of time to get insurance.
Which brings to mind another problem with the 9/11 compensation plan. Most people have the opportunity to purchase life insurance. By paying premiums with our own money, we can make sure that if something were to happen to us, our families would be compensated without taking from the government.
Furthermore, in the wake of the attacks last year, several charities sprang up and solicited contributions from people privately. While these charities tend not to collect money for victims of lesser-known tragedies, they still provide a vital service to many families who find themselves in need. They also prove that government intervention is not needed to help the families of the September 11 victims.
Lastly, once the government opens its coffers to one set of victims, it will have a hard time saying no to future victims. What if we face another attack even more massive and more deadly than this last one?
The Bush Administration
should use the compensation money instead to prevent future attacks.
Everyone in the United States would then benefit from the policy, not just
those who failed to plan their finances.