An Unequal Calculus of Cash and Grief
Re “Payouts in Trade Center Cases Bring Hope, Anger” and “Widow Moved by Outpouring of Generosity,” Dec. 23: The first article depicts a widow of the World Trade Center bombing whose husband made $478 a week and who has been offered a $1.5-million payout from the government. Elizabeth Rivas states that the amount is far too little and is demanding $1 million for each of her two children and $1 million for herself.
The second story portrays the widow of Ruben Ornedo, a casualty of the attack, who is due to give birth to their first child in February. Sheila Ornedo’s attitude is one of gratitude that so many acts of kindness have been bestowed upon her.
Rivas says the settlement does not make her happy and that she will sue and doesn’t care how long it takes. It is apparent to me that an eager attorney has convinced her that he could improve her lot in life and has persuaded her to sue the government for more. The one who will benefit the most from this lawsuit will be the attorney; after all of the legal bills have been paid, Rivas will be lucky to end up with even the initial offer. My heart goes out to both of these ladies.
Bette Hirsh Levy
Tarzana
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I was terribly disgusted that even in death the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks are put in a social hierarchy. Sadly, the U.S. government has decided to calculate the victims’ annual salaries in disbursing federal funds to family members. Did someone who made $200,000 a year die a greater death than someone who made $20,000? The U.S. should also consider paying equal amounts to the victims of other crimes and work-related deaths, whether their deaths were covered on the news 24 hours a day or not. Just because certain people make less money or die less infamous deaths does not mean their lives are worth any less.
Corey Chapman
San Diego
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Surviving spouse Steven Push’s attitude toward the Victims Compensation Fund illustrates my outrage at using tax dollars for this purpose (Dec. 21). Treating it more as a lottery than as a relief fund, Push complains that he will not reap millions in tax-free public money because his wife had the good sense to adequately insure herself. No mention is made that he and the others will also share in the hundreds of millions of dollars donated to private charities.
If Congress justifies this $6-billion expenditure as being to help the airlines, it shouldn’t. Let them go bankrupt fighting lawsuits for their poor security, as the only losers will be their stockholders. Airline assets and employees will quickly be picked up by new companies that will do a better job of protecting and serving the traveling public.
Michael C. Pouliot
Redondo Beach
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I have always been a bit stunned by the amounts of cash people expect when a loved one dies. As a member of the armed forces, our government has determined the maximum value of my life to be $250,000, but only if I pay a monthly premium. If I do not pay the premium, my life is only worth a few thousand dollars (about a month’s back pay). If I die in the service of my country and that’s all my family is entitled to, I do not see why anyone is entitled to any more than a quarter-million dollars in compensation, regardless of the circumstances. If you feel your life is worth more, that’s what life insurance is for.
John Handy
Nipomo, Calif.
