The US government offered $25 million after September 11 for the capture or death of Osama Bin Laden, and now that Bin Laden has been assassinated, the question is what should happen to the money.
Since no individual directly brought about the end of the Bin Laden hegemony, and since people in the military cannot be awarded the money ethically, since they were doing their duty as Navy SEALS, it seems appropriate that the money go to the September 11 responders, those firefighters and police officers and others who helped rescue survivors at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and who, in so many cases, suffered grievous injuries or illnesses.
It does not seem appropriate for the relatives of those who died to receive payments, as they have already been awarded financial damages.
It is proper that those who gambled their lives and health to help retrieve live victims and clean up the struck sites in New York City and Arlington, Virginia, over a period of months be thanked by financial payments that honor what they did, in the name of patriotism and nationalism!
Could not agree with you more Professor Feinman. The first responders have gotten the shaft as far as I am concerned..especially by the GOP. Oh they certainly like to make speeches and mention the responders but when it comes to the real needs of these brave Americans, it took nearly two years, nearly two dozen hearings, and last-minute revision and an unconscionable reduction in the amount allocated for the measure, the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010, the so-called 9/11 First Responders Bill that was introduced in February 2008 to set up a program to provide health care benefits and financial compensation for first responders that were at Ground Zero on September 11, 2001, and who were exposed to toxins and subsequently have become sick, was passed and sent to President Obama for his signature.
Finally. And with no thanks to a great majority of Republicans The money should be applied to
James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act of 2010.