Love him or loathe him, he nailed this one right on the head....

[motrctyman]

By Rush Limbaugh:
I think the vast differences in compensation between victims of the September 11 casualty and those who die serving our country in Uniform are profound. No one is really talking about it either, because you just don't criticize anything having to do with September 11. Well, I can't let the numbers pass by because it says something really disturbing about the
entitlement mentality of this country. If you lost a family member in the September 11 attack, you're going to get an average of $1,185,000. The range is a minimum guarantee of $250,000, all the way up to $4.7 million.

If you are a surviving family member of an American soldier killed in action, the first check you get is a $6,000 direct death benefit, half of which is taxable.

Next, you get $1,750 for burial costs. If you are the surviving spouse, you get $833 a month until you remarry. And there's a payment of $211 per month for each child under 18. When the child hits 18, those payments come to a screeching halt.

Keep in mind that some of the people who are getting an average of $1.185 million up to $4.7 million are complaining that it's not enough. Their deaths were tragic, but for most, they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Soldiers put themselves in harms way FOR ALL OF US, and they and their families know the dangers.

We also learned over the weekend that some of the victims from the Oklahoma City bombing have started an organization asking for the same deal that the September 11 families are getting. In addition to that, some of the families of those bombed in the embassies are now asking for compensation as well.

You see where this is going, don't you? Folks, this is part and parcel of over 50 years of entitlement politics in this country. It's just really sad. Every time a pay raise comes up for the military, they usually receive next to nothing of a raise. Now the green machine is in combat in the Middle Eastwhile their families have to survive on food stamps and live in low-rent housing. Make sense? (next I am checking this on snopes)

[jamiesann]

Ill criticize the payments of the 9-11 people (specifically the twin tower people) first of all it had already been bombed once. 2nd the people who got the most money were the poeple who are he surviving spouses and fmaily of the highest wage earners. Those people should have had life insurance, and if they didnt many of the families awarded 2-4 million were surviing family of people who made hundreds of thousands per year. I feel very strongly about 9-11 i get sick to my stomach and have gotten goose bumps from the videos, cried, and severly depressed so dont judge me for not thinking the surviving family derserved millions of dollars.

Considering the average well fare recipient recieves around $15,000 per year for doing nothing (and get this, it costs between 40-50 grand in administration costs for said recipiant of a annual free $15,000) it makes me sick that soldiers get screwed over so much in terms of care when injured, lied to in cases like agent orange or that syndrom the desert strom troops got. The fact the family only gets $6,000 is insulting, and less than avarege well fare recipiant is un acceptable. They should get more than a well for recipiant for life, its only fair since the well fare peeps didnt do anything they dont even pay close to their share in taxes, total bullshit!!

flame away for me thinking that the 9-11 twin tower peeps were over compensated.

I would like to see how much aid per year is available to non tax paying, non law abiding, non hero illegal immigrants can potentially recieve.

[biohazardbill]

I really dont think the 911 surviving families should have been compensated. Yes it was a tragedy, but in reality, everyone dies at some point.

[deuce228]

Originally Posted by biohazardbill

I really dont think the 911 surviving families should have been compensated. Yes it was a tragedy, but in reality, everyone dies at some point.

Well they shouldn't have been paid by the gov. Perhaps by the companies because of a workplace tragedy, or something else. Personally, if i worked in a big ass building, i would worry about plenty of things. That fucking elevator could give and i could fall 100 stories.

[C.K.]

I have to agree with everything said so far.

[Miffy]

The money should have came out of INSURANCE COMPANIES!!! Do you know how many billion's of dollars go through insurance companies?? and how much get paid back out. Each and every one of us will pay higher insurance on our auto's home's etc. etc. due to these and the Crap Mother Nature is tossing at us. Yes I think the familys should get help for there loss but it should be covered by a Insurance company someplace. Why is it that it is always up to the Goverment to pay on these Issues. and We here in Michigan have yet to have a major Crises to be help out. (Knock on Wood) And if we were to have one would we be helped out or would it be just like it is down south where people get shipped away from what was there homes and told fill out this paper work and we will get to you in a year or two.

[BgBorecody]

I found that 2948 people were killed Sep. 11th
http://www.september11victims.com/se...ctims_list.htm

If the minimum of $250,000 was paid that would total $737,000,000
if the average of $1,185,000 was paid for each it would total $3,493,380,000

Where is four billion dollars going to come from?

[Ebs]

Who is paying them all that money? The government or various charities? If its the government, I think its a little rediculous to recieve anything let alone that much. I don't see what the basis of compensation is. Is the government somehow at fault for what happened?

[motrctyman]

snopes says its true

[longarm]

No amount of money will ever truly be enough for our military forces. IMO, our fighting forces should be paid very well and have the best standards of living. I can remember being on WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) when I was on active duty. It was rather imbarrassing going in and out of that office. Especially since most of the people I saw were dressed just like me, in uniform. It wasn't as bad shopping as far as imbarrassment because we shopped at the Commassery and the majority were on WIC. We didn't complain much as we made the best of it and knew that we were there voluntarily. It is the job of the veterans of this country and the public in general to bitch loud enough for the Military to be taken care of. I know I bitch to anyone who will listen. My children look up to military members as heroes. My children don't look up to hollywood for their heroes.

[RICK]

I work for the VA.
The monetary "entitlement" for widows and survivors of military members have increased significantly since this 2002 article.
Congress increased the immediate death benefit, life insurance, and a special "combat death or injury" benefit.
The total lump sum benefit for a military "combat" death to survirors is now about $750,000 TAX FREE.
In addition, the monthly lifetime benefit for widows is still about $1,000, also tax free.
Each of these benefits were/are paid retroactive to 09/11/01 or date of death, whichever is later.

[TJrockdogg]

this is probably something I don't need to coment on, but going to anyway.
many of you know that I was involved in a life or death motorcycle accident. nothing caused by my driving or the bike, just one of those things.

I have been paying into Social security since I was 16 years old, luckily I turn 40 in June. I can't work, drive and have memory and vision problems. asked Social security for some disability help and they denied it. have to go next week to see a psychiatrist and take a test to see if I qualify.

if it were my decision, it would depend on each family.
non-married - burial cost and 50% of annual pay for a year.
married surviving spouse under 60 - burial cost and one year annual pay.
surviving spouse with children - burial cost and 5 years annual pay.

that's what seems fair to me, don't even get me started on the military or vetrans. because i'm one. spent many times at GQ.

[fastrt6dakota]

God knows I agree with everyone that thinks the soldiers' families should get more money. I've watched news reports of two friends that were killed in Iraq and one that was wounded to the point where he can no longer support his family in any way (RPG hit his HMMWV, killing all 4 occupants. He was the roof gunner, so he got his legs blown off at the knees and a piece of something or other blew through his spinal cord, paralyzing him from just above the shoulder blades down.) I have my opinion on that whole situation, and I think that he and his family should be set for life, due to the situation in which his injury occured and the extent of the injury sustained. I think it should be similar for ALL injured/ KIA soldiers wounded in the course of defending our/ another countries freedoms.

Now...here comes the shitty part. How many civilians walked into the WTC on 9.11.01 KNOWING that the buildings could get attacked at any moment? Probably not alot, or most people at least thought "If it happens, I'll be able to get out, like in '91 (or whenever it happened last)." How many soldiers in Iraq KNOW that their convoy could get attacked at any moment? Probably all of them, or else they are ignorant to the present situation.

I'm gonna get flamed for this, but I think that Rush's comparison of an Iraq-bound soldier to a WTC businessman/woman is unfair to both of them. The soldier is in a situation where they KNOW FULL WELL that they can/ might get hurt. Yes, they get shitty pay, and I hate that aspect, but such is life and my votes will reflect that in every election. The businessman/woman taking the elevator up to their 110th floor office to fill out insurance forms for $40k a year had NO IDEA that one day, they would be considered a combatant and marked for death.

Those that are screaming about life insurance... how much does your life insurance pay? I know what mine is. My company gives us $100k for death/ dismemberment coverage, with optional coverage up to $500k (paid by the employee). How far does even $500k get you, when your family is used to you bringing home $50k a year. Lets take into account that they have to pay off your existing debt, plus pay for your funeral. So that $500k becomes around $400k, less if you have to pay for a newly bought house. Now, you have basically 8 years of salary from the former "bread winner". 8 years. Let me say that again....8 YEARS. You have 8 years to either use that money and go to school to learn a job that can support a family and take over as the bread winner, or you can blow 8 years away and start over with nothing. Shitty.

Those people that died in the trade center were NOT defending our country, nor did they go to work that day knowing they were going to die. They left their families at home, confident that they were going to earn some money that would be used to support that family. Then, they were killed. The family was left with nothing. They deserve SOME SORT of monetary support, through both the insurance company and through the government. I will PROUDLY pay my taxes if a portion goes to the family of the people of flight 93, or flight 11, or floor 110 or...you get my point.

That's my opinion. If you don't like it, go back to Russia.

[Stan]

fastrt6dakota,

People die every day going to work or at work place accidents.
What about them?
The federal goverment should not pay ANYTHING to the 9/11 families but SS benifits.
In that case the american people stepped up and gave very generously as they do in most tragedies.

[Guitardrumr]

fastrt6dakota, your exactly right. Those that died on 9/11 weren't expecting to die, weren't going to work in spite of the possibility of death. Do they deserve something for the atrocity? Yes, probably. Should the government be dishing out $4billion for them? Hell no.

Next Issue

Soldiers sign up to be soldiers, knowing full well that if the shit hits the fan, it's their life on the line. Guess what? They still sign up. They still join in spite of the fact that they could die just doing their job. I don't know about you, but I think the person that knows they could die any day, and still signs up for the job deserves to be paid well.

[fastrt6dakota]

Originally Posted by Stan

fastrt6dakota,

People die every day going to work or at work place accidents.
What about them?
The federal goverment should not pay ANYTHING to the 9/11 families but SS benifits.
In that case the american people stepped up and gave very generously as they do in most tragedies.

I disagree, due to your wording. You said "accidents". Would you like to explain to me exactly which part of 9/11 was an accident and not a deliberate attack? I know that people are killed/murdered every day, but not necessarily because of an organized and well-planned attack. The only thing that can really be considered an "accident" on 9/11 would be to look at the PA crash from the terrorists point of view: They accidentally lost control of the passengers and for a brief moment, were overcome by the bravery of a few.

It sucks when someone you know dies unexpectedly. I know...as recent as a month ago, I lost someone who was like a parent to me. The only consolation I take from it is that he died peacefully (albeit without prior warning, he had an anurism and died in his sleep). The people aboard the planes, and in their offices, and even worse, in the stairways running UP trying to save people (the firefighters) died because someone's hatred for our country, our government, and our way of life was SO GREAT that to them, it was worth killing thousands of innocents to prove a point. The families of those people, some of which never got the chance to say "good bye" or "I love you" to their loved one, deserve AT LEAST to live at a level of monetary comfort that they would have lived, if their family member hadn't been killed. You (generalized you, not a personal attack) sit here and say that 4 million dollars is too much to give to a family. Ask yourself how much money you would have made in your lifetime from tomorrow on through to retirement. That is money that your wife (or husband) and kids are depending on to survive. I want you to look a surviving family member in the eye and tell them that the life stolen from them on 9/11 isn't worth that money. Hopefully you have the compassion and humanity to tell me that you couldn't do so.

[biohazardbill]

We live in America... this is our choice... we choose to live in a Democratic nation. We the people....

Democracy and the freedoms we have are choices we make. These are not accepted by all other nationalities.

When a person is murdered... does the government step up and give the surviving families a large lump sum of cash? No they prosecute the offender which is what the government is doing by this war.

Everybody dies..... if your worried about your survivng families... get LIFE INSURANCE........ as you may die in an accident or get murdered by a car jacker on the way home today (psssst governement isnt going to pay anything to your spouses)....


As for the soldiers... since there is no draft anymore and these people voluntarily risk their lives the protect our freedoms that we choose to live in, i think they deserve better wages and benefits, especially for the families. Not only do the families go for months on end, watching the tv hoping not to see their loved ones on it, some never see their loved ones again...they deserve it.

[1stREALjeep]

if it were my decision, it would depend on each family.
non-married - burial cost and 50% of annual pay for a year.
married surviving spouse under 60 - burial cost and one year annual pay.
surviving spouse with children - burial cost and 5 years annual pay.

tjrockdog, you hit the nail on the head. These people absolutely deserve something, but an average of $2mil?! NO!

[BgBorecody]

Originally Posted by fastrt6dakota

....The families of those people, some of which never got the chance to say "good bye" or "I love you" to their loved one, deserve AT LEAST to live at a level of monetary comfort that they would have lived, if their family member hadn't been killed. You (generalized you, not a personal attack) sit here and say that 4 million dollars is too much to give to a family....
I want you to look a surviving family member in the eye and tell them that the life stolen from them on 9/11 isn't worth that money. Hopefully you have the compassion and humanity to tell me that you couldn't do so.

So the Gov sould pay-up...I should pay-up. The reason you say surviving family members is because theay are still alive... and they can get a f-ing job.

[Stan]

Originally Posted by fastrt6dakota

I disagree, due to your wording. You said "accidents". Would you like to explain to me exactly which part of 9/11 was an accident and not a deliberate attack? I know that people are killed/murdered every day, but not necessarily because of an organized and well-planned attack. The only thing that can really be considered an "accident" on 9/11 would be to look at the PA crash from the terrorists point of view: They accidentally lost control of the passengers and for a brief moment, were overcome by the bravery of a few.

It sucks when someone you know dies unexpectedly. I know...as recent as a month ago, I lost someone who was like a parent to me. The only consolation I take from it is that he died peacefully (albeit without prior warning, he had an anurism and died in his sleep). The people aboard the planes, and in their offices, and even worse, in the stairways running UP trying to save people (the firefighters) died because someone's hatred for our country, our government, and our way of life was SO GREAT that to them, it was worth killing thousands of innocents to prove a point. The families of those people, some of which never got the chance to say "good bye" or "I love you" to their loved one, deserve AT LEAST to live at a level of monetary comfort that they would have lived, if their family member hadn't been killed. You (generalized you, not a personal attack) sit here and say that 4 million dollars is too much to give to a family. Ask yourself how much money you would have made in your lifetime from tomorrow on through to retirement. That is money that your wife (or husband) and kids are depending on to survive. I want you to look a surviving family member in the eye and tell them that the life stolen from them on 9/11 isn't worth that money. Hopefully you have the compassion and humanity to tell me that you couldn't do so.

Ok, because of your wording I see you think because of our foreign policy, that gave these assholes a reason to attack us it is only fair that the government pay the families.
You are WRONG!!!!
The government has NO right to give the families ANYTHING.
Why to people look at the government as a seperate business or entity. It produces no income on it's own. That is MY money, your money, that you seem to think it's okay to just give away. Beside the fact that it is against the law to do.
Compassion and humanity has NOTHING to do with it.
My wife and I give a pretty large sum of money away to charities of OUR choice every year.

Maybe the better question is, can you look in the eyes of every family member that has lost someone to gang violence in this country every day and tell them they don't deserve 4 million. It's nothing more than domestic terrorism.