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Did you know that Congress is going to give the families of victims killed or injured in the Sept. 11 attacks an average of $1.6 million per family? This money will be tax-free, and total approximately $6 billion. Those with loved ones killed or wounded on Sept. 11 stand to collect a small fortune, courtesy of the US taxpayer.
I’m trying to understand why deaths caused by terrorists are any different than deaths caused by drunk drivers, stupid laws, or demented high school students. Drunk drivers have been destroying families for years. Federal seat belt laws have killed innocent babies and broken up loving homes. We are all familiar with high school murderers that destroy young and promising lives.
None of these families were compensated with million-dollar government awards or exempted from taxes. Why should the Sept. 11 families be treated differently? For that matter, why should murdered New Yorkers be treated differently than our military heroes being killed in Afghanistan?
The hearts of all Americans go out to those who lost loved ones Sept. 11, and millions have made gifts to ease their suffering. More than $1.5 billion in cash has already been donated, as well as goods and services worth hundreds of millions more. The way to help the victims and their families is through the compassionate generosity of individuals.
Congress has no business appropriating charity. Nothing in the Constitution authorizes it, and it cannot be done with fairness. Senators and Representatives should do what the rest of us have done by reaching into their own pockets.
Davy Crockett was a U.S. Congressman. Here's how he learned that charity was not a proper function of government. A link to "Not Yours to Give Away" can also be found on my home page. It's not real complicated. Congress uses enforced charity to people and businesses to buy votes. You and I are chumps to keep sending the same people back to Washington.
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