searched for federal aid and didn't see this article, sorry if it's a re-post

Greed is not a pretty sight. Gimme more charity.

"Congress created the fund as a streamlined option to discourage families of the dead and injured from suing financially imperiled airlines. Congress made lawsuits more difficult by limiting airlines' liability to the amount of their insurance coverage."

Just another example how the airlines bought off Congress. They should suffer their own consequences, if any.

"Greed is not a pretty sight. Gimme more charity."

No, greed is not a pretty site. Just remember, though, that these people have a right to sue, so why should they settle for nothing or almost nothing--comparatively speaking?

I'm a stay-at-home mom, and you can bet your boots that I would not settle for anything less than that which allows me to continue to stay home with my kids. These people are grieving and MAD AS HELL. The patriotism and warm fuzzies that got them through the first few days are gone. Now, they just miss their loved ones.

By the way, I've never sued before, even though I sustained permanent injuries, and the accident was clearly the other guy's fault. I decided I could live with my injuries, but I'll be darn if the stupid airlines and their sloppy, slip-shod service and security wouldn't be forking out the money that would allow me to live at home with my children in the manner to which I am accustomed!

The only thing I do not agree with is that they subtract what the family had for life insurance. The people who had life insurance paid for the insurance. It seems like they are penalizing the people who thought of their families future. If Bill Clinton can make $100,000 per speech from all those corporations lets see 16 speeches would be 1.6 million. I think they children/families are worth more than 16 Bill Clinton speeches.

Bump to what you said!

The problem is it won't be the airlines shelling out the money. It will be me John Q Taxpayer.This is why everyone needs life insurance.
They should be grateful there is any offer at all. If you can't make it on 1.6 mil maybe they need a class on how to budget.
Why should Uncle Sam overtax my $40,000 to pay death benifits to someone who is already a millionaire?

Thats 1.6 mil per family. Not total. FYI

I'm a stay-at-home mom, and you can bet your boots that I would not settle for anything less than that which allows me to continue to stay home with my kids.

I understand grieving, having lost my dad a while back. But using the above logic, if I was 17 years old, going to school, living at home, and my parents were killed, would I have a "right" to get money from other taxpayers to allow me to continue doing that for the rest of my life? I think not. Life involves risks. People die everyday from heart attacks, traffic accidents, and blatant stupidity. The fact that on September 11, these people were killed by acts of terrorism doesn't change the fact that it was just that: Terrorism. I donated $50 to various 911 charities, which was all I could afford. These people are not entitled to a dime from me, you or anybody else, unless we give it willingly.

Their collective greed is disgusting. I say don't "award" them a dime, let them sue, and I hope a logical jury with a clear understanding of where "government" money comes from knocks the wind out of 'em.

Why can't a mother with 2 children support herself with l.4 million in the bank? These people feel as though they won the lottery. One guy, who lost his brother said he should get 20 BILLION. They are giving money to children up to 26 years of age. One lady said, the government owes me and should support me the rest of my life. I hope they sue and the juries give them nothing. And the lawyers charge them also.

I second your statement.

Many had millions of life insurance

Help understand this, my wife and I are spending money on life insurance premiums. Thats called self reliance. Also once known as American self reliance.

The premiums are enough to give us a small getaway vacation each year, vacations that others are taking. Perhaps even you and your wife.

As I understand your comment, our persoanl sacrifices should COUNT FOR NOTHING in the event of a catastrophe?

How vwey socialistic of you.

SentryoverAmerica? Sentry for who? I have relatives who spent 70 years under communist rule in Russia, part of the former USSR. Is THAT the country you are the sentry FOR?

Public Monies and Private Supplications by David Crockett.

This six billion lotto prize is a spit in the face to all firemen who lost their lives in fires set by arsonists. It is a spit in the face to all policemen in the country who lost their lives on duty from various thugs. These firemen and policemen never received a cent of government compensation.

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My late husband, NYC law enforcement, lost his life "on the job". I received $30,000 from his union's life insurance, three years salary (minus $30,000) from his pension system, and $255 from the federal government via the social security administration. And when I turn 60 I'm entitled to reduced social security benefits as a widow.

Hopefully, each of the families will receive a huge chunk of the monies collected by the charities, but I think it's wrong for the federal government to get involved. If lives are lost in the future due to more terrorist attacks will those families be entitled to benefits also?

No, greed is not a pretty site. Just remember, though, that these people have a right to sue, so why should they settle for nothing or almost nothing--comparatively speaking?

I don't see where the victims families have a case against anyone that would be exempt from suit due to acceptance of $1.65 million from the government. Regardless of the continuous stream of posts about how bad airport security is, nobody anticipated that 3,000 people would be killed essentially by 19 razor blades. The airlines are not responsible for airport security or law enforcement, and those are the two systems which could have prevented this action.

Frankly, the only people entitled to anything from the government are those government and military emplyees killed in the course of doing their jobs, and what they are allowed is already clearly defined.

I am bothered by complaints about the size or form of any charity.

Greed is not a pretty sight. Gimme more charity.

Perhaps the victims families of the Oklahoma City Murrah building bombing may want to revisit the issue. -Tom

I've heard there have been rumblings about this among the Oklahoma City victims......

So they don't sign an agreement with the government and sue the airlines. While I don't think we should have to shell out the money, either, you are all forgetting the point of all of this. The government is trying to shelter the airlines. Too bad. The airlines STINK, and deserve to get stuck giving these folks several million a piece as far as I'm concerned.

The cockpits should have been secured years ago, for starters. Poor planning and poor foresight is not an excuse.